A “chronic alcoholic” refused to go to hospital on the morning before he died, an inquest has heard.

Joseph Thompson, 57, from Millbrook Road East, Southampton, had been drinking at a friend’s house on the night before his death and had slept on a hard floor.

Southampton Coroners’ Court was told that when he woke up his friends called an ambulance – but he refused to get medical help.

That evening, he began drinking again and became unwell at his home, the inquest heard.

Paramedics were called but he suffered a cardiac arrest.

A verdict of accidental death was recorded.