A GRIEVING mother is warning of the dangers of inhaling gas lighter fuel after hearing how fumes were suspected of causing her only child’s death.

Computer specialist Richard Gurney was holding a fuel canister when he was found dead at his home in Hamworthy, Poole, on December 6 last year.

Because his body was badly decomposed toxicology tests could not be carried out.

But East Dorset Coroner Sheriff Payne said: “I have to suspect that the use of gas lighter fuel must, in some way, have been responsible for his death.”

Speaking after the Bourne-mouth inquest, Mr Gurney’s mother Doreen Tremain, 61, said: “I’m still in a state of shock. I’ve never known Richard to inhale fumes but you only have to do it once to lose your life.

“Richard was so talented. He was well educated and had graduated with a maths degree from Warwick University.

“Since moving to Poole about 12 years ago he had worked for Barclays and JPMorgan. Richard had set up his own business and just finished working on a year-long project. He was really anti-drugs and had his whole life ahead of him.”

The inquest was told how Mr Gurney, 39, had been found dead in bed at his Blandford Road home after a concerned friend contacted the police.

Recording a narrative verdict, Mr Payne said he could not be absolutely certain of what had caused Mr Gurney’s death but there had been no suspicious circumstances.