A beloved grandfather ended his life after he feared becoming a burden to his family following a recent cancer diagnosis, a court heard.

Gordon Smith was found unresponsive in his Costessey home, having taken action to end his own life. He was 89.

A cherished father-of-seven, grandfather and great-grandfather, Mr Smith lived an active life well into his latter years and up until his retirement. He worked as an engineer.

An inquest into his death heard that weeks before he died, he had been diagnosed with a form of skin cancer.

The day before, his wife had to be taken into hospital, with Mr Smith helping her into the ambulance prior to her admission.

But on March 30, his stepson visited him and discovered he had taken his own life.

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His stepson, who asked not to be named, said: "He was worried about his skin cancer and was worried that he was going to become a burden to the family.

"He was also worried that our mum may not come out of hospital and he just did not want to be a burden to anybody."

Jacqueline Lake, senior coroner for Norfolk, concluded that Mr Smith's death was suicide.

She said: "There is evidence Mr Smith was worried about his health and about his wife."

After the inquest, his stepson added: "He was fit and active until the last day  - he would still cut the grass and was a keen gardener.

"He was a lovely grandad and an all-round lovely old boy.

"It is a great shame but he never wanted to be a burden and got to go out in his own way."

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