A RETIRED university lecturer took his own life after suffering from the 'progressive and incurable' effects of a childhood disease, an inquest has heard.

Roger Osborne Lindsay, 79, was found dead by his son Toby who was visiting him at his home on Benson Street, Ulverston, on May 27, 2024.

In a statement submitted to Cockermouth Coroner’s Court, his son said Mr Lindsay had contracted polio at the age of two, underwent several surgical procedures and was placed in an iron lung to keep him alive.

He went on to study at Oxford University, gaining a doctorate at the age of 30 and enjoying a successful career as a lecturer. He was described as a 'fit and healthy' adult.

Mr Lindsay moved to Cumbria in his retirement and took a voluntary role with the Citizens Advice Bureau.

According to his son, Mr Lindsay had 'no major health issues', physical or mental, until in recent years he 'noticed one side of his body become weaker'.

When persuaded by his son to see a doctor, he was diagnosed with post-polio syndrome, a return of the symptoms he suffered as a child, the inquest heard.

Mr Lindsay became less mobile and while he enjoyed cooking and reading, he found himself 'feeling faint', falling asleep during the day, and gradually deteriorating, it was said.

His son said his condition had a 'significant impact' on him. 

A police constable received a report at around 6.30pm on May 27 of a sudden death, went to the property on Benson Street and was satisfied that Mr Lindsay’s was a case of suicide, the inquest heard.

A GP report noted no mental health problems but mobility issues from polio and that Mr Lindsay was Covid-housebound.

A toxicology report showed a small amount of morphine in Mr Lindsay’s system.

A postmortem examination concluded a cause of death from asphyxiation.

Assistant Coroner for Cumbria  Dr Nicholas Shaw concluded: "Roger was clearly a well-educated, intelligent man.

"He had polio as did so many of his generation.

"He was born in 1945 and vaccines didn’t really come in until about 10 years later.

"He was a very educated university lecturer, and a volunteer when he retired to the Lake District.

"He finds himself affected by growing older as we all do, and you become weaker and tired.

"That, coupled with the restriction of loss of mobility due to the late effects of polio, I believe he's taken a perfectly reasonable decision to end his own life.

"It is perhaps highly relevant with the debate about assisted dying - I suspect he might have requested it had it been available.

"He took this action perhaps a day or two before Toby arrived and he knew he'd be found.

"It's perhaps unfortunate he didn’t leave any final message.

"I believe that it was a deliberate choice and one certainly wouldn’t criticise him for taking it given his circumstances."

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