A CORONER has ruled that the death of a dentist, who practised in St Helens, was accidental.

Kenyan-born Simon Ayoo, 46, who worked at Newtown Cambridge Centre on Cambridge Road, was found dead at his flat in Sale in February 2008.

Coroner John Pollard delivered a verdict of ‘accidental death’.

He cited the cause as positional asphyxia with alcohol intoxication.

The inquest at Stockport Magistrates’ Court heard how the newly divorced father-of-two had been drinking heavily before his death on Saturday, February 22, at a friend’s house before getting into a taxi in the centre of Manchester.

It is believed he fell downstairs when he returned home.

He was found by police three days later.

A toxicology examination showed that Mr Ayoo was between three and four times the legal driving limit.

Mr Ayoo, who was born in Eldoret, Kenya in 1962, studied at Nairobi University before moving to the UK in 1995.

He was described by family and friends as an intelligent, confident and sociable person, who was in good health.

Mr Ayoo’s ex-wife Dr Margaret Maloba said his life had started “spiralling out of control” after he had left the family home and had begun drinking heavily.

She added: “He was living a life surrounded by alcohol.”

Detective Sergeant Frank Hayley from Greater Manchester Police said: “Mr Ayoo met his death as a result of a tragic accident.”