The family of a 'loving' husband, father, grandfather and son who was found dead at his home paid tribute to him at an inquest into his death. 

Richard Alan Foster, 59, was discovered in the garage of the house he shared with his wife in Randall Road, Chandler's Ford, on February 14 this year. 

During a hearing at Winchester Coroners' Court on Tuesday, November 29, she described him as a 'quiet and introverted' family man who loved his daughters and grandchildren. 

The inquest was told he was a "talented" carpenter who "lived for his work" and had been hugely successful in his career, with the pair leading a "lovely life" and enjoying lots of holidays and "nice things". 

"He kept himself busy all the time," she added. "He was never the sort of man that would come home and sit down."

However, the inquest heard Mr Foster had been 'hit hard' by a lymphatic cancer diagnosis in January of 2020. He started chemotherapy in July 2021 but was told he still only had two-to-five years to live, even with treatment.

Due to the impact of the chemotherapy, he was forced to give up work and became increasingly restricted in what he could do, causing his mental health to decline.

In November 2021 he was admitted to Southampton General Hospital after suffering a manic episode and was referred to mental health services. 

Giving evidence, Dr Carmen Parr, a consultant psychiatrist for Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, said he "responded well and was recovering" by the end of November.

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However, after spending three weeks in the hospital over Christmas and New Year for a stem cell transplant his mental health once again began to slip, and he was diagnosed with 'moderate to severe' depression at the end of January 2022.

Mr Foster was allowed to receive his treatment at home as Dr Parr said although he had admitted to having suicidal thoughts, he was "adamant" he wouldn't act upon them. 

He was prescribed antidepressants and received frequent calls and visits from the mental health team over the following weeks. 

His family said they felt "let down" by mental health services as they "didn't visit very often" and missed an appointment on the Saturday before his death. 

Dr Parr said Mr Foster's visits were reduced over time as he was showing signs of improving, and that he had been contacted the following day to arrange an alternative appointment for later in the week. 

She said: "There is not a clear algorithm we follow. In the week leading up to this tragic event, we wouldn't have considered daily visits necessary."

Mr Foster was found dead in his garage shortly before midday on February 14.

Concluding the inquest, area coroner Jason Pegg said: "It's quite clear to me he was a very much loved husband, son and father. He was a very hardworking man who, at the age of 59, had achieved a lot and was able to look after his family very well."

He added: "This cancer did blight his life. It made him severely depressed and that usually happy family man changed."

Mr Pegg recorded his death as suicide.