Great British Menu star chef Christopher Wheeler took a cocktail of drugs including meth and ketamine before dying in an overgrown part of London's only royal cemetery.

The popular chef – who appeared on numerous other TV cookery shows including Saturday Morning Kitchen - was reported missing on February 25 by his partner.

Workers at Brompton Cemetery in the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea then discovered his body hidden among gravestones two days later.

The father of two had died from asphyxiation.

Because of the appearance of the body, the first police officers to attend could not rule out suspicious circumstances so the scene was preserved and a full forensic response mounted.

CCTV showed Mr Wheeler entering the cemetery – owned by the Crown – on his own.

Inner West London Coroner's Court heard how Mr Wheeler, 52, had two passions in life – cooking and his family.

However, the court heard that he had a history of mental health issues.

A pen portrait from his family – which included his two daughters – was read out at today's hearing.

It said he was a 'truly sunny soul' who was 'gentle and kind'. It went on: 'He knew from a young age that he wanted to be a chef and followed that throughout his life.

'He was a perfectionist and took immense pride in his work. His career left him with little free time but he always made sure to make time for his family.

'He adored his daughters and considered his family to be his greatest achievement.'

The two graveyard workers had been looking for a broken headstone to repair on the morning of February 27 when they spotted the body leaning against a grave in a hidden area of the Victorian cemetery.

They did not touch anything but immediately called the police and London Ambulance Service (LAS) attended, with a paramedic pronouncing Mr Wheeler dead at 9am.

Detective Sergeant James Cole of the Metropolitan Police's CID department was called to the scene when it could not be determined whether a third party had been involved.

He told the hearing: 'Due to the circumstances of where the body was found...I requested an Operational Forensic Manager (OFM).

OFMs are called in suspected homicides, suspicious deaths and larger criminal investigations, carrying out a full forensic examination of the area.

Mr Wheeler was found in a hidden area out of sight to the public.

'The OFM decided there was no third party involvement and it was a self-death,' Detective Sergeant Cole added.

A toxicology report carried out by Dr Limon Nahar of Imperial College London found methamphetamine, amphetamine and ketamine in samples taken from Mr Wheeler's body.

Methamphetamine, known as meth, and amphetamines are both stimulants while ketamine is an anaesthetic as well as an abused street drug.

In his report, pathologist Dr John Firth found no signs of any injury or struggle and gave the cause of death as asphyxiation and the harmful effects of drugs, adding: 'Although the drugs were not at fatal levels I consider them contributory.'

Coroner Mrs Harkin said having read a report from Mr Wheeler's GP there was no evidence that he had ever abused drugs.

She said she had to rule out suicide as she could not be sure that Mr Wheeler's intent was to die.

Instead, she recorded an open verdict and said: 'Christopher left no note and had no history of self harm and I cannot be sure he had that intention so I rule out suicide.

'The harmful effects of amphetamine, methamphetamine and ketamine in the case of absence of intent may have altered his way of thinking and because of that I can't say that it was an intended death.

'I just do not know whether there was intent and because of that I am going to leave an open conclusion - that means I just don't know what effect those drugs had, if any.'

Mr Wheeler started his career at the Domaine De Bassible Hotel in the French town of Segos.

He worked with famous chef Jean-Christophe Novelli for ten years, becoming the youngest sous chef in a Michelin-starred restaurant.

He went on to deliver Michelin-starred cooking across several of the chef's restaurants, including operations at Four Seasons Park Lane and Maison Novelli.

Mr Novelli – his friend for 30 years – posted on Instagram after hearing of his passing, saying: 'It is with the heaviest of hearts that I say goodbye to my dear friend, Chris Wheeler.

'His loss is a devastating blow to the industry and to humanity.

'Chris was an extraordinary chef, but even more extraordinary as a man - warm, generous, steady, and endlessly kind.

'In the kitchen he moved with grace and precision; beyond the pass he carried a gentleness and humour that made everyone around him better. That is how I will always remember him.'

Mr Wheeler, who grew up in Dorset and lived in Greenford, west London, had most recently worked at the Hurlingham Club private members' club in Fulham.

Tributes were also left by those at Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire, where Mr Wheeler worked for many years as executive chef.

'It is with profound sadness that we share the news that our former Executive Chef Chris Wheeler has very sadly passed,' a post on Instagram read.

'For over 20 years Chris wowed guests at Stoke Park with his incredible food, whether this was a dinner in Humphry's (which Chris led to win 3 AA Rosettes) or a fabulous event, a wedding or at The Boodles Tennis.

'Chris's food was always the talking point and the lasting memory for our guests for all these special moments.

'Chris wasn't just an extraordinary Chef, he was an extraordinary human being; highly respected by his peers and much loved by all who met him and by the Stoke Park team who had the privilege to work with him.

'The Caterer magazine once described him as "one of the most genuine and loyal chefs in the hospitality industry". This couldn't be more true.'

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