A 40-YEAR-old man who was reported missing before being found dead in the River Wye had significant heart disease, an inquest heard.

Idwal Martin Humphreys, who preferred to be called Martin, was reported missing from his home in Honddu Close in Hereford on October 9 last year.

His body was found in the River Wye between Fownhope and Brockhampton on October 12.

An inquest at Herefordshire Coroner's court heard a post mortem revealed no evidence of drowning.

Coroner Mark Bricknell said this suggested death occurred before or on entering the water.

The pathologist said Mr Humphreys died from ischaemic heart disease and also listed vasovagal inhibition, with an antecedence cause of immersion in the River Wye.

Mr Bricknell explained that vagal inhibition is related to a nerve in the neck, which can immediately switch off the body. He said some people experience this due to cold water.

He also said that Mr Humphreys had significant heart disease with a 90 percent obstruction of blood flow in an artery.

The inquest heard Mr Humphreys, who had four children, had been feeling low since his brother died in 2013.

His GP, Dr Jones, at Moorfield House Surgery said Mr Humphreys attended an appointment on October 6 and admitted to drinking about eight cans of Strongbow a day, but said he would like to get help from rehabilitation charity Addaction.

On October 9 the police were called to Tesco in Bewell Street by Mr Humphreys who was having mental health difficulties and said he was being followed by four men trying to kill him. He was taken to A&E to speak to the Crisis team and was discharged after they gave him Addaction's number and offered further advice.

Later the same day at around 6.30pm a police officer spoke to Mr Humphreys outside The Kerry in Commercial Street. PC North took Mr Humphreys to Addaction in Bridge Street and he went in for an initial assessment. That was the last reported sighting of him.

His partner Nicola Jones said she believed Mr Humphreys suffered with depression.

Coroner Mark Bricknell said: "We can have very serious suspicions he was suicidal at the time of his death." But he said he cannot be certain beyond all reasonable doubt that he intended to kill himself.

He recorded a narrative conclusion stating the date and place where he died.