AN inquest into the death of an Accrington gym owner has been delayed while special tests are carried out.

Philip Wasdell, 42, died on Tuesday, May 15 at his home in Manchester Road, Baxenden, after being found collapsed.

Coroner Michael Singleton said that an insulin overdose was suspected as a cause of death but that he had not realised that the substance breaks down quickly in the body.

He said: “What I didn’t know was that testing for insulin is very, very difficult.

“Samples need to be extracted as soon as possible because it breaks down in the body after death, unlike other substances.

“Had I been aware, I might have instructed the pathologist to act quicker.”

Mr Singleton told Mr Wasdell’s family that special tests were now being carried out in a toxicology laboratory but warned that a cause of death may be hard to achieve.

He said: “My fear is that we will end up with an unascertained cause of death.”

He added that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and no suggestion of third party involvement.

The inquest has been adjourned until October 2.