TRAGIC sports photographer Ravi Ghowry was found hanged at Reading Hockey Club's pitch by a plumber, an inquest heard.

"Depressed" Mr Ghowry, who worked as a photographer for the club, was described as a valued member of the Sonning Lane club.

The 30-year-old, who left suicide notes on his laptop written months before his death, was well known for his photographs of both local and international sporting stars.

An inquest heard how a plumber arrived at the club's ground to carry out some work when he discovered Mr Ghowry's body.

A coroner concluded he died as a result of suicide while suffering from depression.

Plumber Anthony Darby arrived at the site in Sonning, on September 12 last year when he made the shocking discovery.

He told the inquest: "I fetched my tools, entered the clubhouse and was working for just one hour. I finished the job returned to my van and it occurred to me something was not quite right.

"I walked around the pitch, looked up and saw the person I now realised was hanging. I could also see a camera and a drink at that location."

The inquest at Reading Town Hall heard two suicide notes were found on Mr Ghowry's laptop computer although they had been written in May.

One note read: "For a long time now I have been considering suicide. It is now the best option for me."

The coroner heard Mr Ghowry struggled with his mental health for some time and had attended counselling sessions.

Dr Wais Ravi, a consultant psychiatrist who saw Mr Ghowry, added: "He had poor concentration at work, fatigue in the past few months and suicidal ideation."

Mr Ghowry decided to stop his work with the mental health team before his death, after deciding he needed to improve himself.

After hearing all the evidence, coroner Peter Bedford ruled Mr Ghowry's death was suicide.

The coroner said: "I will record that Mr Ravi Ghowry died at Reading Cricket and Hockey Club - he took his own life while suffering from depression."

Paying tribute to Mr Ghowry at the time of his death, Tim Mann, chair of the club, said: "Ravi was a good friend and valued member of the club.

"He was well-known to the hockey family for his many wonderful photographs of hockey matches that he took for Reading HC, for England Hockey as well as many other clubs, and he will be greatly missed."