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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Sara-Aisha Kent & Naina Bhardwaj

BBC reporter found dead next to partner as cause of death described as 'unascertained'

A BBC reporter who was found dead next to his partner has had his cause of death described as 'unascertained'.

John Stevenson, 68, and Mark Turner, were both found dead in March 2020 after a district nurse was unable to get a response from Mark in March 2020, according to the Mirror.

Police had been called and forced entry into the home in Aberdare, Wales, and found the journalist's body on the floor next to his bed, just yards away from his partner.

John had his first stroke in 2013 (Western Mail/The Mirror)

A court heard there were no suspicious circumstances related to the deaths of the couple and experts had ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning as well as any "electrical accidents".

During an inquest in Pontypridd, the court also heard that the the exact circumstances of John's death were not known but he is likely to have died from natural causes due to poor health.

John had been cared for by Mark for the final year of his life after suffering from multiple strokes, the first of which was in 2013 when he was working as a political correspondent.

He then had another stroke in 2017 and the inquest heard that he did not do the physiotherapy he was prescribed and his condition deteriorated, eventually losing all mobility and the ability to speak.

Mark had been trying to lift John before they died, coroner David Regan told the inquest and added that Mr Stevenson had "likely died prior" to 12 March but it was impossible to determine the exact date.

The coroner also heard evidence that Mark was finding the role of being John's full-time carer difficult.

Garmon Rhys, Head of News and Current Affairs at BBC Wales, had said at the time of John's death: "He was an articulate commentator who had a sharp mind and his conversational manner made his reports memorable.

John's body was found on the floor next to his bed, just yards away from his partner (Daily Post Wales/The Mirror)

"As we remember John today, we remember an extremely likeable character who was a joy to work with."

John had began his career at the BBC in Cardiff as a researcher but left due to alcoholism.

During the height of his addiction battle, he became homeless, losing contact with family and friends.

He described being arrested as a turning point and began getting sober, rejoining the BBC in 1997 and retiring in 2013.

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