Pictured: Devoted husband who killed himself by setting his car on fire was so lonely after wife of 50 years’ death and struggled to even boil an egg as sister pays tribute

A devoted husband who committed suicide after his wife’s death struggled to even boil an egg after her death, it was revealed today.

Heartbroken Michael Hewitt, 72, has now been photographed after he died in a fire in February following the death of his wife Diana on New Year’s Day as his sister paid tribute.

According to relatives, the couple had been married for more than 50 years and were “devoted to each other.”

Today his sister Suzanne Flanagan paid tribute to Mr Hewitt, saying he brings “life, light and soul” to any room.

She said: “We lost touch but he was a lovely man. He was a very sociable person, interesting and passionate about many things.

“In the late 60s he played drums in the band The Amalgamation, recording cover versions of songs by the Rolling Stones, the Kinks and the Beatles.”

Mrs Flanagan added: “He loved fishing and had a deep interest in all sorts of things. He was the life, light and soul of any room. He could talk to anyone and was great with people.”

Mrs Flanagan, who breeds Bernese Mountain Dogs and runs a cat and dog kennel in Findon, near Worthing, West Sussex, said: “He was also very handsome, handsome and the girls really liked him. All the girls chased him when we were growing up.

“My friends were always trying to get me to set them up with my brother – I’m sure that was the only reason they wanted to be friends with me.”

“Mike also had a few girlfriends before he met Diana, but they got married early and moved away first to Devon and then to Cornwall and unfortunately we lost touch.

The son of former RAF soldier John Hewitt and Doris, a dental nurse, Michael Hewitt grew up in Worthing with his sister.

He first found work with a wine merchant, and then moved to work in a printing house.

After meeting Diana at 20, he moved to Launceston in Cornwall and worked in the Ginsters pie factory.

His family said he was a stable man with a wide circle of friends and could often be seen around town.

The inquest heard that after the death of his wife in December 2022, he was grief-stricken and struggling with loneliness.

The hearing was told he had organized his wife’s funeral the day before his death.

The childless couple were described as “serene and calm” and had few friends.

One friend told the inquest at Paydar House in Truro, Cornwall, that after Mrs Hewitt’s death Mr Hewitt changed, became quiet, struggled with his daily routine and was heartbroken.

Doctors said the retired factory worker suffered burns to every part of his body except his legs and that his injuries were not survivable.

The couple’s in-laws said they were “committed to each other” and were not surprised he died six weeks after his wife.

Friend Teresa Parnell said they had been married for 53 years and Mr Hewitt was heartbroken when she died.

She said: “He struggled after she died. He didn’t know how to boil an egg and struggled with loneliness.”

Police and fire investigators concluded that Mr. Hewitt deliberately entered the car and set it on fire, intending to kill himself.

Senior Coroner for Cornwall Andrew Cox recorded a suicide report saying they lived for each other’s lives and Mr Hewitt was lost without her.

His sister said: “It’s very sad to hear that he took his own life in this way. Honestly, it’s a huge shock.”

She added: “Mike and Diana were each other’s lives. You could say they were devoted to each other.”

Now neighbors from the rural village of Lesant in Cornwall who came to his aid claim it took the ambulance more than two hours to arrive.

Matthew Basier, 59, was first on the scene and pulled Hewitt from the car, saying: “I find it so hard to believe he killed himself, I still think it was an accident.” He kept his little terrier and loved this dog very much.

“I saw him the day before, we were talking about Diana, and he said: “Thank you for your kind words.” He was clearly grieving, but there were no signs that he was suicidal.

“It’s such a shame because they were so happy together.”

“They lived in the same house for 30 years. I saw him every day, they just lived for each other.

“They loved the area and told people it was paradise for them. What happened is just terrible.”

An inquest this week heard Mr Hewitt, who is believed to have worked at Ginsters bakery before retiring, got into his Honda CR-V in the driveway and set the car on fire.

Neighbors heard an explosion in the early hours of February 11 and pulled him from the inferno, but he suffered 95 per cent burns and later died at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.

Mr Basir added: “It was about 5am and I just woke up and saw an orange glow coming from the house, that’s when I realized what it was.” I told my wife to call the fire department and ran around.

“He was already half out of the car when I found him. The fire department did a great job and we did everything we could before they got there, but we had to wait so long for the ambulance that the fire department ended up calling them to give them a hard time too.”

Another neighbor, who asked not to be named, said: “They were a lovely couple but very private. It’s very sad that something like this happened to them.”

As emergency responders surrounded Mr Hewitt to save him, he muttered to a firefighter at the scene: “Let me go,” the inquest heard.

On January 25, police found an entry in his diary for 2023: “I can’t live without my wife.” Sorry, Mike.

The day before his death, he organized his wife’s funeral.

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