A CORONER said there was no explanation how a former teacher suffered a cut to his wrist which led to his death.

Roger Cahalin, a former assistant head teacher at Ulverston Victoria High School, was found dead at his home at Birch Close in Barrow on July 23 after his employer called the police concerned for his welfare, the Coroner's Court in Cockermouth was told.

The 68-year-old had a cut on his left wrist which he had bandaged when he was found by police.

The father-of-two was last seen by his neighbour Bruce McKenzie in his back garden before going inside his house the day before.

"When I was on holiday leave I got a call saying he had not attended a house viewing," said his employer Graeme MacLeod of Hunters Estate Agents, for whom Mr Cahalin had worked since 2017.

"I drove to his address and his car was parked outside and the curtains were drawn and there was no answer at the door.

"When I came back later on there was still no answer and the curtains were still drawn."

Mr MacLeod then called police concerned for his welfare. He was later informed of his death.

"He was a real gentleman and reliable," Mr MacLeod said.

Police statements indicated there were no suspicious circumstances but described a smashed glass being found which did not have any blood on - suggesting this was not self-inflicted.

A statement from his GP Dr Gerry Murray described how he had been treated for blood clots and that he had anxiety over his physical health but there were no concerns regarding his mental health.

The toxicology report found 350 milligrams per decilitre of blood which the toxicologist suggested would cause "extreme drunkenness”, but the impact of the alcohol would depend on his tolerance.

The cause of death was given as left wrist laceration with contributing factor being acute alcohol intoxication and coronary artery atheroma (heart disease).

"The challenge of this inquest is to understand how the injury occurred," assistant coroner Mr Craig Smith said.

"It is whether it was deliberate or accidental."

Having not found enough evidence on the balance of probability that this was a deliberate act undertaken in order to take his own life - Mr Smith opted for a narrative conclusion.

He accepted the cause of death offered to him by the pathologist Dr Sarah Hauxwell.

"He was found deceased at his home address," the coroner continued.

"He died as a result of blood loss from a cut.

"An explanation or reason for the cut could not be detained by the evidence."