AN EPILEPSY sufferer had been trying a new drug to control his seizures when he died, an inquest was told.

The body of Richard Andrew Robinson, 48, was discovered at his flat in Gwernymynydd by his elderly mother on January 28.

Mr Robinson, who was employed as a groundworker, was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 16 the hearing at Flint Magistrates’ Court was told.

Giving evidence, Richard’s brother Keith Robinson said: “Richard struggled with the fact he wasn’t able to drive because he loved his cars. That was a big blow for him.

“He was a bubbly man but he would often get depressed.”

The inquest was told Mr Robinson had been watching football on television at his
flat on the evening of January 27.

It is believed he suffered a seizure in bed and died shortly afterwards.

His mother Margaret Johnson, who lived opposite her son, was concerned that his curtains were still drawn at 11.30am the following day.

Using a spare key she went in to his flat where she discovered his body in bed.

Mr Robinson had been trialling different drugs to control his seizures and was in the middle of a changeover from one drug to another, the hearing was told.

John Hughes, coroner for north east Wales, said: “It’s an area where there is an enormous amount of research going on.

“Nobody knows the effect of a new drug on a patient because each epilepsy sufferer is an individual. We have to keep trying with different drugs.”

Recording a verdict of sudden unexplained death in epilepsy, Mr Hughes added: “We may not understand the mechanism of it but what I can tell you is that Richard died peacefully.”