The man was found wearing a Soviet-issue gas mask Reuters

A HOLLOWAY man found dead wearing a gas mask with his trousers around his ankles was performing a solo sex act that went wrong, a coroner has said.

Jeffrey Cutmore, of Isledon Road, Holloway, was discovered in his living room by paramedics on 17 February. He is said to have been wearing a Russian military-issue gas mask and watching pornography on his computer.

A friend had raised the alarm after Cutmore, 44, had failed to attend a hospital appointment a few days earlier. Post-mortem tests showed that he had been taking amphetamine and ketamine. However, the levels were not high enough to cause an overdose, and his death seemed to have been caused by lack of oxygen.

His brother Stephen Cutmore said: "I hadn't seen him for almost a year but I spoke to him on the phone before Christmas. He was just asking after my three sons – his nephews.

"It is often the case where they try to reduce oxygen to get a heightened sexual feeling – but unfortunately now and again it goes wrong"

"It was only after his death that his lifestyle became apparent."

Dr Freddie Patel, a Home Office pathologist who carried out the post mortem, said: "He was wearing a full-head black rubber mask attached to an open-ended airway tube. It was like a balaclava and very tight-fitting.

"I think the cause of death was asphyxia. For some reason the mask is put on and cuts off the oxygen supply. It is often the case where they try to reduce oxygen to get a heightened sexual feeling – but unfortunately now and again it goes wrong."

Recording a verdict of death by misadventure, coroner Dr Andrew Reid said: "He was found dead wearing a gas mask which completely covered his head and to which was attached a filter. He was partially dressed and there was evidence he may have been accessing pornography on his computer.

"There is no evidence to suggest that this is suicide. It appears he acted alone and voluntarily and deliberately. On the balance of probabilities I am satisfied he accidentally asphyxiated himself while engaging in an auto-erotic act."