A MAN was found hanged from a tree in woodland near Windermere after walking more than 12 miles from his work at a Lakeland hotel.

John Kellet, 35, from Wigan, died of asphyxiation from hanging on September 12.

The hearing was told that he was found with 98mg of alcohol in his blood which is over the legal limit to drive and enough to impair judgement.

Mr Kellet’s mother, Mary Kennedy said her son had been living at home for four years prior to his move to the Lake District to take up a job at The Glenridding Hotel, on Ullswater.

She said he had regretted leaving his previous job and had been unemployed for several months, which had made him low.

However, she said he was enjoying his new job, had invited her to stay during the Spring half term and there was no indication that he was unhappy.

“When he called me, he said it was just a fantastic job,” she said.

Mrs Kennedy said her son had attempted suicide nine years ago but he had seemed much better since then.

Mr Kellet had been working and living at the hotel for just 11 days prior to his disappearance.

Mrs Kennedy said staff at the hotel had told her there had been a staff barbeque on the night of her son’s disappearance.

It later emerged that Mr Kellet had been attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and Mrs Kennedy said she thought he may have had a drink at the barbeque.

PC Alan Buchanan, of Windermere Police, said a walker found Mr Kellet hanging four foot above the ground in a secluded wood between Bowness and Windermere.

He said packaging from a local fish and chip shop and a bottle of wine were found at the scene and there was a strong smell of wine in the area.

Coroner Ian Smith recorded that Mr Kellet had died as a consequence of his own actions whilst intoxicated by alcohol.

“Whatever happened, happened because he wanted it to,” he said. “However, the level of alcohol in his blood is enough to cause impairment of judgement that stops me bringing in a verdict of suicide.”