A FALKLANDS War veteran drank himself to death after failing to come to terms with the horrors of the conflict, an inquest heard.

Matthew Phimister, 41, was found dead in the road on July 5 after driving his son home from school while under the influence of alcohol.

The former soldier who had his left leg amputated in 1998 hit two cars and a bus on the journey from Upbury Manor School to his home in Davenport Avenue, Gillingham.

He then got out of his car, locked it and later keeled over dead with acute alcohol intoxication.

Roger Sykes, the Mid Kent and Medway Coroner, heard at an inquest at the Municipal Buildings in Gillingham yesterday how Mr Phimister had a history of alcohol abuse.

WPC Celia Weller told the coroner she had been called to garages in Davenport Avenue after reports of a man lying in the middle of the road.

She found Mr Phimister lying dead near his parked Ford Focus and saw a half-empty bottle of White Lightning cider on the back seat.

She then interviewed Mr Phimister's wife, Marilyn, 48, and 14-year-old son, William.

She said: "William said he had got out of the car and gone to his house to tell his mum that dad had been drunk driving. Twenty minutes later, they got a knock on the door from a neighbour saying he was dead."

His blood contained 366 mgs per 100 mls of blood. The drink-drive limit is 80mg.

The Glasgow-born soldier fought with the Royal Signals against Argentina in 1982, and the coroner heard how Mr Phimister had suffered from nightmares, stress and trauma ever since.

Mr Sykes recorded a verdict of death by misadventure due to acute alcohol intoxication. After the inquest, Mrs Phimister said: "My son is just heartbroken. My husband will always be a hero in our eyes."