A 44-YEAR-OLD bricklayer suffering from tinnitus was found hanging just hours after asking his wife how to kill myself, an inquest heard yesterday.

Anthony Wheeler, of Shepherd’s Hill, Blackbird Leys, was found by his wife Susan on the morning of October 21 and he was rushed to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital, where he died.

The inquest at Oxfordshire Coroner’s Court heard Mr Wheeler had a motorcycle accident in his youth and had to take painkillers and suffered tinnitus as a result.

He was admitted to hospital in August following an overdose of an anti-depressant drug.

In a statement read to the court, Mrs Wheeler said: “Anthony’s health deteriorated over the last few months leading up to his death.

“He became more depressed and used to say he wanted to stop the constant noise in his ears. He began to drink alcohol quite heavily and was saying he had enough.”

She added that on the morning of his death: “I saw Anthony sat up on the sofa in the living room. He didn’t even say good morning. He said: ‘How do I kill myself?’”

Oxfordshire Coroner Darren Salter recorded a verdict he took his own life.