Devoted dad found dead at home had just found out his mum was terminally ill, family say

A dad who 'adored his kids' and who 'got on with anyone' was found dead at home after discovering his mum was terminally ill.

The family of Robert David Courtney have paid moving tributes to him as they revealed his mother tragically passed away just five days after her son.

Robert, 35, was discovered in his bedroom at the house he shared with his nan on Thursday, December 1 last year, however, he could not be saved. A coroner has now ruled his death was drug-related.

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The inquest heard that on Tuesday, November 29, Robert had been out with his brother and that he then spent much of the following day in bed Lancs Live reports.

When Craig called to check on him in the early evening Robert said "I'm not well, I'm not well" the hearing was told. Craig raced round to the home Robert, 35, shared with nan Joan Owen in Skelmersdale in Lancashire, went up to his brother's room and told him to get some sleep."

"He would normally sleep it off and wake up in the morning and say he'll never do it again," he said in a statement. The following morning, Robert's nan Joan had been visited by her sister Brenda and when they realised there were no sounds coming from his bedroom they went to check on him.

Robert had been heard snoring and they left him assuming he was asleep. However, at 1pm, Robert still hadn't surfaced and Joan went again to check on him. As she opened the door she "immediately knew something was wrong". Paramedics were called but Robert was sadly pronounced dead.

The inquest held at Preston Coroner's Court on Monday (April 24) heard that Robert had just started a new job, delivering car parts, and had recently reported being clean of cocaine and