A MACHINE operator found dead at his home died from natural causes, an inquest ruled.

Steven Ecob, of Red Lane, had suffered ill health all his life.

The Huddersfield inquest heard that the 39-year-old was born with a heart murmur and while at university developed Crohn’s disease.

The engineer also had diabetes and asthma which had recently got worse.

His mother Hilary said:: “His diabetes was not controlled very well and his diabetes and Crohn’s disease seemed to effect his life badly.

“He was caught between these conditions and became depressed.”

Mr Ecob was found dead at home on August 12.

A post-mortem revealed that he died from heart failure.

Recording a verdict of natural death, Coroner Roger Whittaker said: “Unexpectedly he did not die from these diseases he had been suffering from.”