Question over walker's bog death

The remote valley where the body was found

A retired labourer out walking on his own died in an isolated field after becoming trapped in boggy ground up to his knees, an inquest has heard.

Bachelor Robert Michael Hoops, 59, had not been seen for almost two months before his badly decomposed remains were spotted by a farm worker on a tractor on 12 April this year.

Medics had to compare DNA from his liver to blood found on the toothbrush in his Pontardawe, south Wales home to make a positive identification.

Recording an open verdict, Neath Coroner Dr David Osbourne said: "Exactly what happened to him I do not think we will ever know.

"There does not seem to be any particular reason why he should have been in that area. It is likely, in fact, that he became stuck in the bog.

As I got closer I could see it was a body. It had a coat on and was slumped forward Farmer John James

"But the state of his body was such that we cannot determine whether or not he underwent some brain episode which could have led to his death."

The inquest at Neath was told how Mr Hoops' body was found in the field at Pendarren Farm, Cilmaengwyn, Ynysmeudwy by John James - a part owner of the farm.

"I was going round the field cutting the grass and something caught my eye," he said.

"As I got closer I could see it was a body. It had a coat on and was slumped forward," he said.

Mr James said he was only in the area because it had been unusually dry making that part of the field accessible.

Even so the inquest heard police called to the scene had found themselves sinking in mud past their ankles as they approached the body.

Donald Lewis had reported his neighbour Mr Hoops missing on 8 March this year.

"I placed an old TV on his doorstep so he would have to move it," Mr Lewis told the court.

"He would have to move it to get in or out of the house. It was there two or three days. That's when I knew something was wrong."