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| Lottery winner dies of self neglect A lottery millionaire found dead at his home, had spent months slumped in his sofa, drinking heavily, an inquest has heard. Philip Alan Kitchen was drinking a bottle of spirits, a litre of wine and up to eight cans of lager every day leading up to his death. But the 58-year-old had no alcohol in his body when he died of bronchial pneumonia. Mr Kitchen had not moved from the sofa at his home in Barnt Green, near Redditch, Worcestershire, for several months, the inquest at Kidderminster Town Hall was told. The former master carpenter was surrounded by two crates of lager and an unopened bottle of whisky when the undertakers removed his emaciated body. Recording a verdict of death from self-neglect, Worcestershire coroner Victor Round said Mr Kitchen's lifestyle since scooping the £2m jackpot three years ago had "immobilised" him. "A 58-year-old who is looking after himself does not die of bronchial pneumonia," he said. "I think it is his lifestyle which immobilised him, a lifestyle of neglect." The inquest heard how Mr Kitchen had not eaten properly for six weeks before his death and had a history of heavy drinking. Police said he had been thrown out of the village pub in June last year but refused to curb his alcoholism despite the advice of a doctor and social services. A psychiatrist had also seen Mr Kitchen and concluded that he was not depressed and "quite aware of the amount he was drinking and refused to stop". Robert Walker, a long-standing friend who had moved in to act as Mr Kitchen's groundsman and carer, said he was unable to stop his friend's binges. "If we refused to bring him a drink, he would have it brought in," said Mr Walker in a statement. "For six weeks before his death Phil had not eaten. I had been cooking meals for him, but he just would not eat. He would just be lying on the sofa." Mr Walker, who had known Mr Kitchen since 1966, discovered him dead on the sofa on 19 December last year. His clothes were filthy and undertakers found faeces in the sofa. Pathologist Paul Geddy said Mr Kitchen had first degree burns to his thighs and lower back, which had turned to blisters due to spending so much time immobile. It was not clear how he had received the injuries, but there was a large, open fire in Mr Kitchen's living room. Mr Walker said Mr Kitchen had refused any medical treatment for the burns. The coroner said in his verdict that the burns were likely to have contributed to Mr Kitchen's pneumonia, but the principal cause was long periods spent immobile. Although it was surprising that a "known alcoholic" could be found dead without a drop of alcohol in his system, Mr Rounds said it was likely Mr Kitchen was able to process it much quicker than moderate drinkers. 23rd January 2002 |
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