A distraught sufferer of a rare disease died within weeks of mourning his girlfriend’s death, a court heard.

Ian Peto, a 31-year-old IT worker, was found lying on the floor at his flat in Arterberry Road, Raynes Park on September 21, after calling in sick five days before.

On December 13, Westminster Coroner’s Court was told Mr Peto suffered from Addison’s Disease, a disorder of the kidneys which stops the body producing vital hormones.

It affects only 14 in every 100,000 people in the UK and must be treated with a course of steroids.

The court heard how Mr Peto lived with his girlfriend until she passed away in August and how he had struggled to accept how she had died.

But, after returning to work in September and apparently returning to normal life, he fell ill on Friday, September 16, and sent a text message to his line manager which said: “Morning, I’m afraid I am not going to make it in today as I was sick today and feel like absolute crap this morning, sorry.”

When he failed to show on the following week, his employers contacted the police on Wednesday (September 21), who forced entry into Mr Peto’s flat and found him dead in his bedroom.

Dr John Du Parcq, a consultant pathologist at St George’s hospital, told Westminster Coroner’s Court on December 13 that Mr Peto had probably died over the weekend due to an “Addisonian Crisis” brought on by having a cold or the flu.

He said: “Addison’s Disease has to be adequately and continuously treated with steroids, particularly during periods of infection and stress. If someone were to get a minor illness, it would make them especially vulnerable.

“Diarrhoea and vomiting are most dangerous. Even a touch of diarrhoea or vomiting can invoke much dehydration and a drop in sodium and potassium ions.

He added: “Even if Mr Peto was taking an increase dose of steroids he perhaps was not even absorbing them into his body.”

Dr Fiona Wilcox recorded a verdict of natural causes and noted there was no evidence to suggest he had taken an overdose or committed suicide.

Dr Wilcox said: “In August 2012 his girlfriend died and he had been left distraught and had concerns about her cause of death that this court is not going to go into.”

She added: “All the evidence is in keeping with an Addisonian Crisis on the back of an illness. I am satisfied that on the balance of probabilities that this illness precipitated Addisonian Crisis which took his life.”