THE death of a young man who once looked destined to become a professional footballer remains a mystery.

Police discovered the body of Richard Berry, 31, after breaking into his home in Silver Street, Taunton.

Post mortem tests were unable to establish what caused the death of Mr Berry, who was registered blind after developing type 1 diabetes following mumps as a four-year-old.

An inquest in Taunton today (Tuesday, January 19) heard his mother had become worried after being unable to contact him and alerted police, who found his body on September 9 last year.

The hearing was told that as a youngster Mr Berry had trials with Queen's Park Rangers, but he went into engineering and then catering after his health prevented him from playing sport.

Shortly before his death, he was "excited" to hear he was to get a guide dog, but was "devastated" when the offer was later withdrawn.

Mr Berry sent several "rambling and doleful" messages to his mother, who tried unsuccessfully to contact him, before calling the police.

Assistant coroner Tim Hayden recorded a conclusion that the cause of Mr Berry's death was unascertained.