AN open verdict was recorded at an inquest into the death of a man whose skeletal remains were found by a birdwatcher and his daughter.

Andrew Peter Chalkley disappeared from his home in Goldcrest Close in Yateley on April 22 last year.

His body was found near the Black Water Valley Trail in Moor Green Lakes nature reserve, Finchampstead, eight months later.

The 50-year-old was seen on the morning of his disappearance by his estranged wife Heather, who lived in the same house.

He was later reported missing by his daughter.

The inquest heard that Mr Chalkley had struggled with depression and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.

He was a smoker and regularly used a purple inhaler to combat his respiratory problem.

The inhaler was found alongside the skeleton on a small patch of land that jutted out into the lake and was surrounded by water and thick brambles.

Birdwatcher Andrew Hawthorn visited the lakes with his daughter Charlie on December 29.

In a statement, read out at the inquest in Reading Town Hall on Thursday, he said: “It took us about half an hour to walk down to a scrub island that used to be part of the gravel pits.

“We walked towards the owl box looking at the ground.

“I was looking at the base of the tree. I saw something on the ground. It looked like a human skull.” The pair had not spotted anything untoward when they were previously in the area five months earlier.

He said: “I can’t be certain there was nothing there the last time we visited, but I saw nothing.” Forensic anthropologist Gillian Fowler was unable to ascertain the cause of death but confirmed the skeleton was of a white, Caucasian man, about 5ft 9ins tall. District coroner Peter Bedford said: “Mr Chalkley appears to have made his way to that place which is remote at best.

“The only conclusion for me to reach is one of open verdict.

“The evidence doesn’t allow me to record any other.” AN open verdict was recorded at an inquest into the death of a man whose skeletal remains were found by a birdwatcher and his daughter.

Andrew Peter Chalkley disappeared from his home in Goldcrest Close in Yateley on April 22 last year.

His body was found near the Black Water Valley Trail in Moor Green Lakes nature reserve, Finchampstead, eight months later.

The 50-year-old was seen on the morning of his disappearance by his estranged wife Heather, who lived in the same house.

He was later reported missing by his daughter.

The inquest heard that Mr Chalkley had struggled with depression and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.

He was a smoker and regularly used a purple inhaler to combat his respiratory problem.

The inhaler was found alongside the skeleton on a small patch of land that jutted out into the lake and was surrounded by water and thick brambles.

Birdwatcher Andrew Hawthorn visited the lakes with his daughter Charlie on December 29.

In a statement, read out at the inquest in Reading Town Hall on Thursday, he said: “It took us about half an hour to walk down to a scrub island that used to be part of the gravel pits.

“We walked towards the owl box looking at the ground.

“I was looking at the base of the tree. I saw something on the ground. It looked like a human skull.” The pair had not spotted anything untoward when they were previously in the area five months earlier.

He said: “I can’t be certain there was nothing there the last time we visited, but I saw nothing.” Forensic anthropologist Gillian Fowler was unable to ascertain the cause of death but confirmed the skeleton was of a white, Caucasian man, about 5ft 9ins tall. District coroner Peter Bedford said: “Mr Chalkley appears to have made his way to that place which is remote at best.

“The only conclusion for me to reach is one of open verdict.

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