HEARTBROKEN family of a Kidderminster man who had gone missing for three months will never discover how exactly he died.

Worcestershire coroner Geraint Williams conducted an inquest into father-of-two Stephen Woolley but said he was unable to establish the cause of death or the final moments that led to him ending up in the river Severn.

The 55-year-old’s badly decomposed body was pulled from the water, near Gloucester, on February 25. He had not been seen since he left the family home in Aster Avenue, Kidderminster on December 6 last year.

In a written statement, witness Steven Taylor said he had gone to work on his boat when he noticed something in the water.

After getting a closer look, he established it was a body and called the emergency services. Police later confirmed the body was that of Mr Woolley.

Pathologist Dr De Cates carried out a post mortem at Worcestershire Royal Hospital but said a cause of death could not be ascertained as Mr Woolley’s body was much decomposed.

Mr Williams added that Mr Woolley’s wife of more than 30 years Carol had said he had been suffering from mental health problems before he went missing.

His disappearance on December 6, followed by the discovery of his Vauxhall Zafira car in Holt Fleet three days later sparked a 12 week search involving extensive searches, house to house enquiries and appeals via local press and social media.

Following his discovery, his family paid tribute to the former bank manager and part-time exam invigilator saying the Aston Villa season ticket holder would be greatly missed by family, friends and colleagues.

As a gesture of thanks to the Missing People charity that supported them during the three months he was missing, they set up a JustGiving page to raise funds for them. The appeal saw them collect more than £1,700 in donations.

Mr Williams recorded an open verdict and said: “On December 6, Mr Woolley left the family home in his car and essentially vanished.

“On December 9, his car was found in the Holt Fleet public house car park. After that there was no trace of him at all.

“Given we just don’t know how he came to be in the river and we don’t have a medical cause of death, I must record an open verdict.”

Mr Woolley is survived by his wife Carol and sons Matthew and Daniel.