A TEACHER at a Suffolk school whose body was found at a nature reserve died from drinking too much, an inquest heard yesterday.

Vincent Ward’s body was discovered at the Carlton Marshes Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserve on the afternoon of Friday, January 21.

The 47-year-old maths teacher at Lothingland Middle School, Lound, had been reported as missing by his wife.

He was last seen by Delphine Ward, a French teacher, at their home in Rushdown Drive, Carlton Colville, as he left for work the morning of January 20.

His disappearance sparked a major search involving police, the South Broads RNLI, coastguard search teams and Norfolk Lowland Search and Rescue Team.

Yesterday an inquest at Lowestoft Magistrates’ Court heard a post-mortem examination revealed Mr Ward died from alcohol toxicity.

However Mr Ward’s wife was told the actual circumstances of how Mr Ward died will never be known.

Coroner Yvonne Blake said: “Mr Ward was a gentleman with a history of depression and problem of working issues.

“The cause of death was given as alcohol toxicity. He went missing on January 20 and was found on January 21.

“We will never know what happened to Mr Ward on the day he went missing.

“I simply offer my condolences to Mrs Ward and her family.”

The coroner recorded a narrative verdict that Mr Ward was found on open marsh land and died from alcohol toxicity.