A TEACHER died in a tragic experiment after he watched a video about the death of pop star Michael Hutchence, an inquest heard.

Johnny Waldron, 26, the son of former Burnley player Colin Waldron, was found hanging from a window at his apartment in Italy with a sarong tied around his neck. He was discovered by his girlfriend Karen Johnson, who had returned to the flat in Naples after Johnny failed to turn up for work as an English teacher.

The inquest heard the pair had earlier watched a video documentary about Michael Hutchence's death. The former INXS frontman was found dead at a hotel room in Sydney in 1997 with a belt round his neck.

There was speculation at the time that Hutchence, 37, died after an auto-erotic experiment went wrong.

However, an inquest recorded a verdict he had taken his own life because of worries about a custody battle involving his girlfriend, TV star and former wife of Bob Geldof, Paula Yates.

The inquest into Johnny's death heard he and Karen were sent a video about Michael Hutchence, which they watched together.

On the day of his death she left for work after lunch leaving him alone in the flat as he wasn't due to start work until later.

She was telephoned in the afternoon by the principal of Johnny's school, asking where he was and she went back to the flat.

She told the hearing she knew her boyfriend was dead when she saw him and that she believed he had tried the same thing as Michael Hutchence.

She said it was just an experiment which had gone wrong and that he would never deliberately take his own life.

East Lancashire Coroner Richard Taylor recorded a verdict of accidental death.

He said: "It was not the intention to finish his life and this was clearly an experiment gone tragically and horribly wrong. I am not here to judge.

"This was a young man who for some reason decided to undertake an experiment which went wrong."

After the hearing Johnny's family paid tribute to him.

In a statement they said: "Losing Johnny has devastated our own family and the Johnson family. His death, rather than the nature of it, has cast a shadow over all our lives.

"However, we reflect upon Johnny's life with great pride and love. He crammed so much into his 26 years and will be remembered by all who knew him for his zest for life, his adventure and his caring nature.

"We have greatly moved by all the love and support shown to us."

Johnny's father Colin, 54, a member of the Burnley Football Club side that clinched the 1972/1973 Second Division title, flew out to Naples after hearing of the tragedy in May.

An investigation into the sudden death was carried out by the Italian authorities and a report sent to the coroner's office in Burnley.

Colin Waldron now runs bookmakers Waldron Racing, in Bradley Hall Road, Nelson, and lives in Cliviger with his wife, Jenny.

Family, friends and Burnley FC stars of the past gathered in Holme Chapel, for Johnny's funeral, at St John the Divine.

Johnny was the couple's youngest son and had an elder brother Nicholas, 29.