A MAN who was found dead in a field in Kidderminster died from hypothermia, an inquest heard.

Christopher Goodacre, aged 44, was found in a field adjacent to Oldington Lane on January 18 this year.

An inquest was held to determine the cause of Mr Goodacre's death at Worcestershire Coroners Court in Stourport on July 25.

As part of coroner James Puzey's conclusion, the inquest heard that Mr Goodacre was seen in his car in a "disorientated state" in Silverwoods Way before he drove to Oldington Lane, where he left the car and went into a field.

The coroner said Mr Goodacre, of Churchill, near Kidderminster, then collapsed in the field and died from hypothermia - “to which his pre-existing heart disease contributed.”

The inquest heard that traces of Ecstasy were found in his blood and that Mr Goodacre, who worked as an engineer, suffered from a “severe depressive disorder with psychotic symptoms”.

Delivering a narrative verdict, the coroner concluded: “On the evening of 10 January 2024 Christopher Goodacre was seen in his car in a disorientated state in Silverwoods Way, Kidderminster.

“Subsequently, he drove to Oldington Lane, left the car and went into an adjacent field.

“There he collapsed and died thereafter from hypothermia to which his pre-existing heart disease contributed.

“He was found there deceased on 18 January 2024. Traces of Ecstasy were found in his blood. He was suffering from a severe depressive disorder with psychotic symptoms.

“In early January 2024 he was not compliant with attending appointments to receive depot medication (a slow-release form of medication).

“Police had seen his car in Oldington Lane on 12 January 2024 but Mr Goodacre was not reported missing and no search was made for him until 18 January 2024”.

The medical cause of death recorded by the coroner was hypothermia, with the coroner also noting paranoid schizophrenia, and ischaemic and hypertensive heart disease.