A 97-year-old died in hospital after taking an “intentional” overdose, an inquest has heard.

John De Lacy, who lived in the St James’s House flats in High Street, Brighton, was admitted to the Royal Sussex County Hospital after taking an “intentional mixed overdose”.

Mr De Lacy, a retired factory worker, was originally treated with IV fluids and treated in resuscitation, before his condition began to improve by the morning.

Dr Karen Henderson, assistant coroner for Brighton and Hove, said at an inquest into his death that Mr De Lacy was asking to go home before his condition began to deteriorate.

Mr De Lacy’s condition began to worsen and he was given a defibrillator shock but was later confirmed to have died on December 21, 2022.

A provisional cause of death for Mr De Lacy was given as cardiac arrest.

Dr Henderson opened and immediately adjourned an inquest into his death pending further investigations.

The inquest will be held on May 11 at the Brighton Coroner’s Office in Woodvale Cemetery.