The family of a much-loved musician found dead in mysterious circumstances admit they will “never truly know” how he died.
Paramedics discovered Ben Wright, who played the drums in local bands, lying face down under a table at his bungalow in Cobham Close, Canterbury.
Ben Wright was found dead in a bungalow in Canterbury. Picture: Facebook
They initially suspected foul play but this was later ruled out.
A coroner this week concluded the 42-year-old Pizza Express worker’s cause of death was “unascertained”, meaning it remains a mystery.
Speaking to KentOnline after the inquest, his brother Dan said: “I have mixed emotions.
“On one hand, I’m very happy we can rule out suicide – that was one thing that was really worrying me.
“We can also rule out anything malicious, so that’s good.
Ben Wright (front right) pictured with brother Dan (back right), his sister-in-law Francine (centre) and fictional horror author Garth Marenghi. Picture: Facebook
“But I guess it’s going to be one of those mysteries where we’re never going to truly know.
“It looks like he didn’t suffer, so that’s one thing I will take away.”
The inquest at Oakwood House in Maidstone heard how, on March 2, Dan asked neighbour Deborah Johnson to check on his brother after days of silence.
She arrived at the bungalow and discovered Ben’s manager from Pizza Express in Canterbury outside the property, as he had not come into work.
They managed to gain access but soon made the tragic find.
Mystery surrounds Ben Wright’s death after he was found lying on his bedroom floor in Canterbury. Picture: Facebook
Coroner Sarah Clarke told the hearing: “Deborah was calling out [Ben’s] name and once she saw him she realised there was nothing she could do.
“Paramedics say they found him lying in the bedroom on the floor under a table near some extension plugs.”
Ms Clarke said the paramedics “initially thought there were some suspicious circumstances” given the position Ben was found in.
But police “were satisfied with their inspection of the house” and there were no injuries found on his body that suggested foul play.
The house was described as untidy and a bit cluttered, but there were no signs of disturbance. Folders and bills were found lying on the bed.
Ben Wright has been described as the “most amazing, wonderful” sibling after he died in Canterbury. Picture: Facebook
The coroner said: “His head was on a pillow, so [paramedics] were thinking it was a medical incident where he’d made himself comfortable then passed away on the floor.”
A pathologist investigated a potential overdose of antidepressants, but sertraline levels were found to be at a normal dose.
There was nothing else, such as drugs or alcohol, found in his system, and there was no natural cause of death or infections discovered.
Ms Clarke added: “Somebody had heard him coughing loudly and excessively on the Thursday night before.”
The pathologist suggested the idea of positional asphyxia, which occurs when a person’s body position prevents them from breathing adequately, and also sudden arrhythmic death syndrome, which is an unexpected death from a cardiac arrest.
A coroner ruled Canterbury musician Ben Wright’s cause of death to be “unascertained”. Picture: Facebook
But there was not enough evidence, and the doctor told the coroner the cause of death was unascertained.
“This doesn’t help with your family understanding what happened,” Ms Clarke said.
“But it does rule things out.
“It wasn’t an overdose. I also accessed his mental health records, but he was functioning in life.
“The last time they [mental health services] appeared to have spoken to him was June 18, 2024, when he was quite positive with them, saying things were okay.”
Ben Wright’s inquest was heard at Oakwood House in Maidstone
Dan, who travelled down from Stoke-on-Trent with his wife Francine, said Ben had been in “good spirits” when he last saw him in February.
The coroner ruled out suicide, finding no note or evidence he had taken his own life.
“I think everyone was surprised we couldn’t find [a cause of death], but it does happen,” Ms Clarke said.
“Sudden cardiac deaths can happen in infants and adults.”
The coroner gave an open conclusion and said Ben’s cause of death was “unascertained”.
He was a very loved person and he would just get on with everyone…
Paying tribute to his brother, who was a huge Liverpool FC fan, Dan said: “He was genuinely one of the most amazing, wonderful human beings, and very talented and very funny.
“He always had a dad joke, and no matter how cheesy it was, it always made me laugh.
“He did a lot of running, and between the two of us, he was the more athletic of the two.
“He always tried to do his bit to fundraise for charity.”
Ben had also worked in care homes as a carer for many years before gaining employment at Pizza Express a couple of months before he died.
The former pupil of the Abbey School in Faversham was also a gifted musician who played at pubs and clubs.
“He played drums in a few bands for many years,” Dan added.
“I don’t actually think he knew how talented he was, but he absolutely loved music.
“He was a very loved person and he would just get on with everyone.”
Dan, 44, says their mum died last year, Ben passed in March, and he lost his dad in June, so it has been a “heavy” year for him.
“I know he’s up now there with Mum and Dad, and he’s looking after them again, so I can take some refuge in that,” Dan added.