A YOUNG man who told friends he was “going on a mission” was later found hanging in a quiet Oxfordshire beauty spot, an inquest heard.

However, his death remains a mystery after Oxfordshire coroner Nicholas Gardiner said he could not be sure he meant to kill himself.

Mzuzile Ncube’s body was found by walkers in woods close to Great Milton, near Thame, on August 23.

On Thursday, Oxford Coroner’s Court was told Mr Ncube, 22, a student at Buckinghamshire University, had been drinking with friends in London the night before his death, but had given no indication about any plans to end his life.

However, he had told them he had to leave early in the morning “on a mission”, which had confused them.

Early on Sunday, August 23, Mr Ncube, of Kingfisher Meadows, Maidstone, Kent, drove his mother’s black Hyundai car from London to Oxfordshire but crashed it on a single track road, known locally as Mill Lane or Church Lane, between Cuddesdon and Great Milton.

He was twice the legal drink-drive limit, tests later found.

Later that afternoon his body was found hanging from a tree.

Ds Alun Watkins, who led the investigation into Mr Ncube’s death, said: “There are a couple of reasons why he might have killed himself, which I have explored with the family.

“His father committed suicide in the same manner; worrying about crashing mum’s car and getting in a lot of trouble with her.

“There was also some suggestion he had an argument (with his girlfriend) but I can’t put any evidence forward.”

The inquest heard Mr Ncube had previous convictions for drink-driving and driving while disqualified.

Recording an open verdict, Mr Gardiner said: “He told his friends he was going on a mission – how that word was to be interpreted I really don’t know.

“The obvious answer would be he realised he was over the limit, crashed his car and was looking at attracting the attention of magistrates that might lead to a prison sentence.

“Hanging oneself against that seems an extreme reaction. Even though that is the most likely explanation it falls short of the standard of proof required to record a verdict that a person took their own life.

“There is reasonable doubt.”