Weightlifter, 90, dies stuck among hoarding, inquest hears

A 90-year-old former Commonwealth Games weightlifting champion was found dead among piles of clothing and DVDs after struggles with hoarding, an inquest has heard.

Kum Weng Chung, known as Chung Kum Weng, from Cardiff, died from positional asphyxia with his position suggesting he had “suffered a fall into a gap between the furniture and had been unable to extricate himself”, the coroner concluded.

Officers found him obscured by piles of clothing, DVDs and books next to a makeshift bed in the living room.

Chung was a featherweight weightlifter for Malaysia before settling in Wales in the 1960s.

At the 1966 Commonwealth Games, he won gold representing Wales, lifting 337kg.

In a pen portrait read during the inquest, his niece, Lai Sim Mayes, said Chung had mental health difficulties and developed a problem with hoarding.

He “gambled to the point that he maxed out his cards and ended up in so much debt that he had to sell his house”, she said.

However, he was allowed to live rent-free at the property, Pontypridd Coroner’s Court heard.

Chung, who lived alone with his dog Lucy, was found by police in February 2025 after a neighbour raised concerns about his welfare.

British Weightlifting said Chung’s connection to Wales was established when he made his Commonwealth debut representing Malaysia at the 1958 games – which was held in Cardiff – where he won silver.

He went on to compete at the 1960 and 1964 Olympic Games, and finished 10th and 11th.

Chung later represented Wales in the Commonwealth Games and competed for Great Britain in the World Championships where he finished 7th in 1970.

He later moved to Cardiff where he worked in a restaurant and then as a bus driver.