THE friend of a man who ended his own life after a long heroin addiction has called his suicide a "waste".

Kevin Paul Hooper died in July of this year and was last seen by neighbours after attending a doctor's appointment in Mullion on July 5.

His neighbours, who drove him to the appointment, said that he was unhappy with his GP who had refused to prescribe strong medication.

Mark Beal-Toms found Mr Hooper's body locked in his room at the Devil's Frying Pan on the Lizard Peninsula on the morning of July 21.

He said that Mr Hooper struggled with loneliness after his car broke down and he found it difficult to travel from the remote area.

Speaking to the Packet after a coroner's inquest today (Wednesday, December 12), he said: "He was a good man. It's just a waste. He was highly intelligent in many ways. He had a lot of good qualities and just couldn't handle being lonely and isolated where he was.

"He was always trying to help people, but being an addict... He never got over the trauma of his childhood."

Assistant coroner Andrew Cox recorded the official cause of death as asphyxia.

He said: "It seems to me that Mr Hooper has taken his own life and intended to do so. I'm going to record a conclusion of suicide."

Mr Cox asked Mr Beal-Toms to pass on a message of condolence to Mr Hooper's family.

The assistant coroner also supported the actions of Mr Hooper's GP Dr Ben Ashmore of Mullion Group Practice for not prescribing the strong medication that he requested.

He said: "Dr Ashmore has done what can be expected of a GP in that situation. I would be much more concerned if he had doled out drugs. The only chance of recovery would be if Mr Hooper wanted it himself."

A suicide note was found at the scene of his death.