A BLACKWOOD businessman was found dead and naked in his house after a woman who tried to resuscitate him fled the scene, an inquest heard yesterday.

Wealthy Reginald Penny, 65, was found at his large detached home set in its own grounds in a part of Old St Mellons known as Millionaire's Row in August last year.

Mr Penny owned Blackwood Finance Ltd in Gordon Road, a licensed debt recovery agency and cheque exchange, which also offered unsecured loans.

He was also the landlord of the Extreme Cycles store in High Street. Cardiff and Vale coroner Dr Lawrence Addicott was told how the divorced man was found with a pair of nail clippers protruding from his mouth after the woman tried to ensure his airway was clear.

His body was in a recovery-style position.

Police later spoke to a Lithuanian woman called Zivile Sasnauskiene who said she had attempted to resuscitate Mr Penny before leaving the scene.

Detective Sergeant Dorian Lloyd, of South Wales Police, told the hearing how police were called after a man who had travelled from London to visit Mr Penny found his body, naked on the living room floor.

Mr Lloyd said Ms Sasnauskiene later explained to police how Mr Penny suddenly had some sort of attack which she believed to be an epileptic fit. She picked up the closest thing to her - the nail clippers - and put the handles into his mouth to help him breathe and clear his airway, then placed him in the recovery position.

"She panicked and ran from the scene," Mr Lloyd said. "She did not phone an ambulance as she does not speak English and did not know how to."

He said there was no reason to suppose any person was responsible for his death.

Pathologist Dr Andrew Davison said a bottle containing an alkyl nitrate was found at the scene but Mr Penny's blood/alcohol level was low.

Dr Davison said he did not believe there was a history of epilepsy but Mr Penny had a history of heart problems, including a previous heart attack and high blood pressure.

"He had sufficient heart disease that he could have dropped down dead at any time," Dr Davison said.

Verdict: death by natural causes.