PORTSMOUTH, United Kingdom – A 57-year-old father of three, who was found hanging from a conservatory door by his wife in August, accidentally hanged himself in a prank gone “horribly wrong” according to Portsmouth coroner David Horsley.

After examining the circumstances of Victor Hayles’ death, Horsley recorded a verdict of accidental death on Thursday according to the Daily Mail.

He said: “I think it’s a prank that went horribly wrong and therefore I have to conclude it’s an accidental death.”

After arriving home from a party shortly after midnight on the night he died, Hayles took his dog for a walk.

When his wife went looking for him she made the grim discovery, finding her husband’s body hanging from the conservatory door, his feet still touching the ground.

Susan, who was married to Hayles for 18 years, said: “We were relieved when the coroner ruled Victor’s death was an accident.

“We always knew he wouldn’t have committed suicide because he wasn’t very good at tolerating pain.

“It was just a practical joke that went horribly wrong.

“He was always pulling pranks and would pretend to electrocute himself when using the drill so I think this was just another of them.

“Victor knew I would go and check on him and turn off the lights so I think he was waiting, ready to scare me with his joke.

“Although we are glad he hadn’t meant to kill himself, it’s still sad because we have lost him.”

The inquest, held at Portsmouth Guildhall, heard Hayles, who lived in the city, had been out drinking on the night of his death.

However, the level of alcohol in his system was only 1.7 times the legal driving limit.

The father-of-three had made plans for the weekend of his death and was looking forward to his birthday and wedding anniversary, which were less than a week away.