A career-driven manager who was missing for five days after being made redundant was discovered dead in a memorial park, an inquest heard today (Friday, July 26).

Keith Sanderson, a man who had worked as a commercial manager of a gas company, was found by a walker in February following a prolonged search after his mother Margaret had found a note written by him.

The 43-year-old was not registered with any mental health services prior to his death but the coroner heard how he struggled to cope with his redundancy.

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Toxicologist Dr Susan Paterson from Imperial College, London, carried out an examination of Keith's body.

She did not detect any drugs other than a low level of his epilepsy medication, but the alcohol in his blood sample was found to be over twice the drink-driving limit.

Margaret said: "Keith grew up with a loving family and he had many friends. He completed university and worked his way up in the gas industry.

"He was made redundant at the age of 40 and he could not cope, he kept himself to himself and would not accept help."

After a five day search, a member of the public contacted Thames Valley Police at 1.40pm.

Police Constable Manminda Purewal said: "Officers arrived at the scene at 1.53pm and found no opportunity to preserve life so an ambulance did not attend."

In her tribute, Margaret spoke about the friends and family who had travelled far and wide to come to her son's funeral.

"He was well-regarded, so much so that three ex-bosses came to his funeral and a friend travelled the long distance from California just to be there.

"Everyone thought of him as a generous, loyal friend," she said.

Concluding the inquest, Berkshire assistant coroner Alison McCormick said: "It is clear that Keith had a loving family who supported him throughout his whole life.

"Margaret suggested that the redundancy weighed heavily on him.

"It is clear his physical and mental health suffered as a result and he stopped taking his anti-seizure medication.

"In my view, he intended to take his own life."

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