A TALENTED musician who was found dead at his home aged 28 died from natural causes which were “extremely unusual” for a man of his age, an inquest was told.

Alex Woods had complained of chest pains in the weeks leading up to his death. However, he was described as a fit and active person who enjoyed martial arts.

On Thursday, August 13, Mr Woods’ financee Katy Millington returned home to their shared flat in Worcester Road, Malvern, at about 9am after spending the night at a friend’s house.

Miss Millington told the hearing she came home in Stourport that she found Mr Woods lying on the floor.

“I walked down the hallway and saw Alex’s body was coming out of the bathroom doorway and he was face down,” she said.

“My initial reaction was ‘what a silly place to fall asleep’. I tried to shake him to wake him up but there was no response.”

Miss Millington called an ambulance and went to get her neighbour, who was a paramedic, but Mr Woods was confirmed dead at the scene.

Miss Millington said that in the weeks leading up to his death, her partner had complained about chest pains and had sometimes felt short of breath.

Mr Woods had recently signed up at a GP surgery in Malvern and was due to attend an appointment the following week.

Worcestershire coroner Geraint Williams said the medical cause of death was massive pulmonary thromboembolism where an artery into Mr Woods’ lungs had become blocked.

“It is not unheard of, but it is extremely unusual for this to occur in someone so young,” he said.

Mr Williams said the death would have been very sudden and Mr Woods would not have felt any pain. He said the condition can often be undetectable until it is too late.

Mr Woods was described as a director in his family’s consultancy and public relations business.

Speaking after the hearing, his father Martin, said: “He was such a lovely lad. Everybody liked him. We are all going to find it very difficult to get over losing him.”

Mr Woods is a former University of Worcester student and played drums in the band, Kharma. His brother, Tom will play drums for the band at a memorial concert on Saturday, November 7, at the New Tardebigge in Hewell Lane, Redditch.

Entry is free but donations can be made to the British Heart Foundation either on the night or by visiting just giving.com/alexwoodstribute.

l Your Worcester News was the only member of the media at this hearing