A deputy coroner found dead at his home had suffered a massive pulmonary embolism, an inquest heard.

A cleaner found John Brodwell, known as 'Mr Horsforth', on the toilet floor of his home in Jackman Drive, Horsforth, on July 17.

The Bradford inquest was told on Tuesday that 58-year-old Mr Brodwell - who was a barrister and deputy coroner for the eastern district of West Yorkshire - had torn a tendon in his knee during a fall earlier that month.

He had surgery to repair the damage, was discharged from hospital two days later and appeared to be making a normal recovery.

After his sudden death, it was found that a blood clot had detached itself from inside his knee and found its way into his lungs.

Consultant pathologist Dr Jan Lowe said the main pulmonary artery was blocked by a blood clot. Another clot was found in the calf of Mr Brodwell's left leg.

The cause of death was a pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis as a result of immobility due to a ruptured tendon.

The combination of an injury resulting in damage to the knee tissues plus surgical repair had meant Mr Brodwell was predisposed to the clotting of vessels in that injury.

"Clots develop over a period of days and can detach and travel through the body, blocking large blood vessels in the lung, which proves rapidly fatal," said Dr Lowe.

Susan Round described how she and her sister called at Mr Brodwell's house to carry out their cleaning duties. As they went in they could hear music playing, but there was no sign of Mr Brodwell. There was unopened mail on the floor and when Mrs Round went upstairs she found him near the toilet door.

Coroner's officer Richard Musgrove said he had spoken to Mr Brodwell on two occasions earlier that week and he seemed fine.

"He was his usual self - anxious to get back to work and asking about what had been going on," he added. "He said he was now able to get around by using the furniture."

As a mark of respect to a former colleague, Coroner Roger Whittaker took the rare step of wearing his official wig and gown during the 35-minute hearing. He recorded an accident verdict.

Mr Brodwell was known to many people as "Mr Horsforth" because of his work for the local community. He was a member of Horsforth Town Council and chairman of the Horsforth Civic Society. He was also chairman of governors at Horsforth School and vice-chairman of governors at Woodhouse Grove School.