An English man has died after a vibrator became lodged in his rectum and he was too embarrassed to seek immediate medical treatment, an inquest has heard.

Nigel Willis was finally admitted to a London hospital on December 30 last year, five days after he inserted the sex toy in his anus, Southwark Coroners' Court heard.

The 50-year-old diabetic had spent five days on the couch of his mother's home unable to walk or move before he sought help at the urging of a friend.

When the single and unemployed man arrived at Lewisham Hospital he was in septic shock. Doctors soon discovered the "foreign body" in his anus and he underwent emergency surgery.

The vibrator was so deep inside his rectum it had perforated his bowel.

While in hospital Mr Willis' condition worsened and he died on February 7 of multiple organ failure, sepsis and a perforated bowel.

Assistant Coroner to inner-south London Sarah Ormand-Walshe called the case "sad".

"The main cause of death clearly is just the abdomen injury - the injury to the bowel," she said.

The coroner ruled that Mr Willis died as a result of an accident.