A man who was found dead on the kerb near Sainsbury's Local in Greenwich High Road died of alcohol intoxication, an inquest has heard.

The body of father-of-one Dave Savage, 37, was found on October 22 last year.

Mr Savage, a carpenter from Glenesk Road, Eltham, had been living in Greenwich with a friend.

Southwark Coroner's Court heard he was a chronic alcoholic who had struggled with alcohol addiction from the age of 15.

Coroner Sarah Ormond-Walshe said: "A student at Greenwich School of Management was due to attend a class that day at approximately 9.30am.

"He drove with a friend who parked his car near the end of a nearby alleyway.

"As they passed Mr Savage they noticed he was sitting on the ground.

"He had his face down and was wearing a black hooded jacket. There was a chocolate mousse in front of him.

"Around an hour later the student went back with a friend to check the car. He commented that the man was still there. He said ‘We should check that he is OK’.

"They both shouted at him 'Oi, Oi'.

"They shook his arm to wake him up. His arm was stiff.

"The student checked for a pulse and felt nothing. He called an ambulance."

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Flowers left near the scene

Paramedics arrived soon after but Mr Savage was pronounced dead at the scene.

The court heard he had repeatedly sought professional help in the months leading up to his death, but had failed to see any treatment through.

His family also claimed he was "sad" at the time of his death following the death of a loved one.

A family statement, read out in court, said: "If it is possible for someone to die of a broken heart, then that must be your answer.”

The coroner said: "This is the sad case of a very young man to die.

"His family was concerned he might have had a thought of taking his own life because he was sad at the time.

"He had turned up at an emergency department drunk saying that, but when he had sobered up he didn't express suicidal thoughts.

"When he was talking about taking his own like he was under the influence of alcohol.

"This is a man who suffered intrinsically with alcohol.

"The level of alcohol in his blood was probably one of the highest I have seen, even for someone who is tolerant to alcohol.

"He was found deceased in an alleyway. He had already died and was pronounced dead at the scene.

"The police found no suspicious circumstances.

"As he had a history of alcohol abuse and the levels of alcohol is his system were so high, I deliver a conclusion of alcohol-related death."