The family of an Ipswich man who died in August last year have said they tried their best to help their once “happy and healthy” relative.

In a statement read out at the inquest for Gary Sutton, 46, his family said he “fell victim” to drug addiction in his teenage years, between the ages of 16 and 18.

But as a child, they said, he was “full of life”.

“Gary was a happy and healthy boy, he had no health problems at all,” they said. “But [we believe] his drug problem led to his illnesses, including schizophrenia.

“He also relied on alcohol, and sometimes self-medicated with it.

“We did our best to help, but Gary was beyond any help at all. But he wanted to stop.”

The inquest heard how Mr Sutton was found dead by a paramedic at his address, a supported housing facility in Gippeswyk Road, Ipswich, at around 8.24am on August 2, 2015.

Suffolk assistant coroner Kevin McCarthy told the inquest how Mr Sutton died as a result of pre-existing medical problems and drug misuse.

The 46-year-old’s medical issues, as recorded in his medical cause of death, included cardiac hypertrophy, ischaemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, and drug abuse.

Mr McCarthy said that Mr Sutton had previously been detained under both sections two and three of the Mental Health Act, and had lived with schizophrenia and other mental health issues for several years.

He passed on his condolences to Mr Sutton’s family, and noted how much they tried to help him.