Woman who'd not seen her brother for 15 years discovered he died alone

A woman discovered her long lost brother had died after being traced by a coroner. Philip John Worthington, originally from Salford, was found dead at his home.

The alarm was raised by the Department for Work and Pensions, after he had not collected his benefits. Mr Worthington's landlord went round to his home in Blackburn to check on him, only to discover that he had died, Lancs Live reports.

As part of an investigation into the 57-year-old's death, the coroner issued a public appeal to trace Mr Worthington's family. His sister Carol came forward.

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She hadn't seen her brother for 15 years, and hadn't realised that he'd moved out of Salford. Mr Worthington was found dead at his home in Rawstorne Street in Blackburn on May 5.

At an inquest at Blackburn Town Hall heard that police were called to the scene. Detective Inspector Darren Irving said he had been called after officers noticed what they thought were injuries on Philip's body. However, this turned out to be one of the changes which happens to a body once someone has died.

The authorities had no details of Mr Worthington's next-of-kin, although it was reported he may have had a sister who lived in Bolton. The inquest heard that toxicology tests carried out after Mr Worthington's death revealed he had fatal levels of heroin in his system.

He had also taken gabapentin, a prescribed drug used to treat nerve pain, which increases the effects of heroin and makes death more likely. Mr Worthington had been taken to hospital on four occasions in the last four years having suffered an accidental overdose.

Although there were references in his medical records to him feeling