A father-of-four hanged himself at his family home while his wife was preparing dinner in the kitchen, an inquest heard today.

John Boddy, 53, was discovered in the roof of his Princes Risborough home by his wife, minutes after she began cooking their evening meal.

Beaconsfield Coroners Court heard from police how the builder’s wife, Heather, and their nine-year-old daughter attempted to save him and called for help from friends at the Bird in Hand pub, in Station Road.

Mr Boddy and his wife had earlier been at the pub and on returning home in Fairway, she began making dinner.

DS Richard Earl said: “Heather was making his dinner and he [Mr Boddy] said that he needed to do something in the loft.

“After a short period of time she noticed she hadn’t seen him and went upstairs where she found him hanging from the loft hatch.

“She tried to call 999 and ran to the pub for help.”

No note or message was left by Mr Boddy and friends and family told police that he seemed “quite normal” in the days leading up to his death on May 4.

It is not believed to be premeditated and the rope used had been owned by Mr Boddy to tie down equipment on his van.

Coroner Richard Hulett gave a conclusion that Mr Boddy had taken his own life, saying there was no doubt what had happened and described the incidents as “very impulsive”.

He said: “It really is quite mysterious, maybe a case of more going on his mind than was known.”