Inquest at Suffolk Coroner's Court hears 'larger than life' Lowestoft musician died at home after becoming reclusive

A coroner has recorded an open verdict after a ‘larger-than-life’ musician was found dead last year.

David Cutler’s body was discovered by emergency workers at his home in London Road South, Lowestoft, on November 5, 2022.

They were called to the scene by his landlord, who was concerned that Mr Cutler had not paid his rent that month.

Mr Cutler, 69, was found slumped against a sofa, and had been dead for some time.

Yesterday, an inquest at Suffolk Coroner’s Court in Ipswich heard that Mr Cutler was a well-respected musician.

As a young man, he won a scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he worked with such jazz pioneers as Bill Frisell and Mike Stern.

Later, he studied mechanical engineering, while still finding time to lecture in music and perform in bands.

Coroner Darren Stewart told the inquest that Mr Cutler’s bandmates described him as an ‘inspirational’ and ‘larger-than-life’ performer.

Relocating from Wales, he settled in Lowestoft in 2012.

After 2016, Mr Cutler became reclusive, cutting off ties with family and friends.

By all accounts, he was in poor physical health by the end of his life, suffering from bronchial asthma, morbid obesity, hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

However, a post-mortem examination into the cause of his death was inconclusive.

On the basis of this, Mr Stewart recorded an open verdict.

The coroner rounded off the inquest by expressing his condolences to Mr Cutler’s family and friends.

He said Mr Cutler had made ‘important’ contributions to music.