Mummified body found in car

A MAN may have been dead for up to three months before his body was found in his car in Spain, an inquest heard yesterday.

A MAN may have been dead for up to three months before his body was found in his car in Spain, an inquest heard yesterday.

James Woolnough's family became concerned for his safety when they had not heard from him for several weeks last autumn.

An inquest held in Lowestoft yesterday heard that his family alerted the authorities in Spain, where Mr Woolnough, 43, who was originally from Halesworth, had been living for some time, but he was not found.

Mr Woolnough's body was eventually found in his car by a local resident, parked on an isolated track off a main road in north east Spain on October 23 last year.

It is believed the body could have been in the car for between 75 and 90 days before it was discovered.

Suffolk deputy coroner Yvonne Blake said: “It was very hot in Spain and he was inside a closed vehicle so his body was partially mummified. For those reasons, the cause of death is unspecified.”

Ms Blake recorded an open verdict.