FORMER milkman Kim Cinderby almost certainly died of a heart attack when he fell face down in his dog's water bowl during an epileptic fit, a coroner has decided.

The Littledean 51-year-old had not been taking his medication for epilepsy and an inquest at the Gloucester City Council offices heard that this would have made him more prone to fits.

Mr Cinderby, of Oak Way, was found dead at his home on June 9 this year by his friend and neighbour Robin Lancet.

"Kim was in the kitchen face down on the floor with his face in the dog's drinking water bowl. I tried to move him but realised he had died and called the police and ambulance," he said.

Mr Cinderby's sister Kay Wallace said he was a single man who had done farm work when he was young and then worked for their father as a milkman.

Mr Cinderby's sister Kay Wallace said he was a single man who had done farm work when he was young and then worked for their father as a milkman.

"But when father died the business was sold and he never worked again after that. He lived with mum until 2002 and then moved to Littledean. He was a heavy drinker in his younger days and would still drink most days but there were days when he did not drink at all," she said.

"In 1999 he fell while gardening and hit his head. The next day he was crashing about in a fit. He was very good at taking his medication and was told not to drink. He still did but cut down on it.

"He has had regular fits over the last ten years but did not make a fuss about them."

When she was told that he had not been taking his medication she was very surprised and could not understand it since he had always been so meticulous about doing so, she added.

The coroner was told that nothing suspicious had been found at the house and police were satisfied no-one else had been involved in the death.

Mr Cinderby?s GP Dr Hannah Deer said he had reduced his medication himself this year and it was then changed, with a prescription for tablets to be taken morning and night.

Pathologist Dr Linmarie Ludeman said: "It is most likely he died as a result of heart disease with an epileptic fit as a contributory factor."

Mr Crickmore recorded a verdict of natural causes.