A DIABETIC man who fell into a coma on a train was robbed as he lay unconscious on the floor.

David Hanlon, of Gargrave, lost a rucksack full of personal effects for his late brother's friends.

On Monday Mr Hanlon was returning home after spending a week sorting out his brother's affairs, following his death.

The problems started when Mr Hanlon's bus from London to Leeds was delayed by four hours. He boarded the train to Skipton, due to arrive at 8.44pm, and ate biscuits to try to keep his blood sugar levels up.

But he was not able to maintain his insulin levels and suffered hypo-glyceamia, eventually falling unconscious. When the train stopped in Skipton, his body went unnoticed by the guards but was eventually spotted by the cleaners.

Mr Hanlon woke in an ambulance and asked for his rucksacks. Ambulance staff had picked up a larger bag full of clothes but said there had been no smaller bag next to him.

"I was in complete turmoil," said Mr Hanlon, who now believes he was robbed. "Someone saw me unconscious on the floor, took my bag and walked off. So much of me was in there. There were little bits of information only of value to me."

The small red and black Hi-Gear rucksack also contained his insulin and test meters and four folders containing irreplaceable research work Mr Hanlon was going to use on a conservation trip to the States, route plans for a cycling trip across Cyprus and a book containing contacts of his brother's.

He reported the incident to the police.

Mr Hanlon said he did not remember anyone hanging around the carriages or acting suspiciously but he urges anyone who did see anything, or who spots the rucksack, to contact the police.