Man died after getting trapped inside cupboard

A man who got stuck in his bedroom cupboard died after battling in vain to free himself for up to a week, an inquest heard.

Ronald McClagish, 51, is believed to have been trapped when a wardrobe toppled over in front of the cupboard and wedged him inside.

Jobless Mr McClagish eventually wrenched off a copper water pipe inside the cupboard and used it as a tool to batter the inside of the door but could not break free as water gushed over him.

Two police officers called at his home near Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, after he had not been seen for a fortnight.

Initially police treated the incident as a crime but a post-mortem examination found Mr McClagish died from bronchitis.

Coroner William Morris recorded an open verdict.

After the hearing Mr McClagish's brother William said: "I don't see how the wardrobe could have fallen on its own.

"There are a lot of unanswered questions and the only person who knows the answers is dead."