Brothers die on consecutive days

A CORONER has recorded a verdict of death by natural causes on two brothers who died separately on consecutive days. David Elliott, 45, of Icknield Way, Letchworth GC, and his brother Stephen Elliott, 48, of Chiltern Road, Baldock, both died at the turn o

A CORONER has recorded a verdict of death by natural causes on two brothers who died separately on consecutive days.

David Elliott, 45, of Icknield Way, Letchworth GC, and his brother Stephen Elliott, 48, of Chiltern Road, Baldock, both died at the turn of the year from natural causes, said Hertfordshire coroner Edward Thomas yesterday (Wednesday).

On New Year's Eve David, a carpenter by trade, died of upper gastrointestinal blood, oesophageal varices and hepatability encephalitis, a symptom of liver disease, and alcoholic liver cirrhosis, which Mr Thomas said was consistent with David's medical history.

On learning of David's death, family members attempted to contact Stephen at his home but were unable to do so.

Mr Thomas said: "They were at Stephen's house with the police and they could not get an answer.

"They unlocked the door using David's keys but struggled to get it open."

Stephen was discovered behind the door and after a post-mortem and a toxicology report, Mr Thomas said Stephen had died of ischemic heart disease, again a natural cause.