A man was found dead in his own home after suffering a fatal asthma attack, a court heard.

Steven Brown, 47, was found lying unconscious on his bed by his wife Ghislaine, on the morning of December 6 last year.

Southampton Coroners’ Court heard how the couple had been out for dinner the night before, returning home early so that Mrs Brown could go to work.

She left their home in Waverley Close, Fordingbridge, at 7.30pm.

But when she returned to the property at 8.05am the next morning, she found her husband’s body.

The court heard how Mr Brown had suffered from a “significant” asthma condition for “quite some time”.

Recording a verdict of death by natural causes, coroner Keith Wiseman said: “This came as a sudden surprise and shock.”