A bereaved father was found dead while on holiday three months after his young sons were killed by a banned driver in a hit-and-run crash, an inquest has heard.

Reece Platt-May, 30, of Coventry, was discovered at a hotel in Kavos, on the Greek island of Corfu, on 17 May. His sons Corey, six, and Casper, two, died while crossing a road in Coventry in February.

At the opening of the hearing at Coventry Council House on Thursday, DS Catherine Bowler, of West Midlands police, said: “Mr Platt-May had recently lost his two children. He was holidaying with a friend, Sean Smethurst, and was due to return to the UK on May 17.

“West Midlands police became aware of Mr Platt-May’s death when family members contacted the police informing them they had had calls from Corfu. I believe the calls were from Mr Smethurst.

“As a result, West Midlands police made inquiries with the British consulate in Corfu. His death was confirmed by the consulate. Mr Platt-May had hanged himself. Time of death was 2am on 17 May, the date he was to return. No suicide note has been traced.”

The assistant coroner for Coventry, Simon Charlton, adjourned the inquest. He said a date would be fixed once reports from the family, GP and police in Corfu had been received.

In April Platt-May attended the sentencing of the man responsible for his sons’ deaths, Robert Brown. Brown had cocaine in his system and was banned from driving when he ploughed into the boys, after speeding at up to 60mph. He was jailed for nine years after admitting two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

Brown, 53, of Wyken, Warwickshire, had 30 previous convictions for driving offences. He had been released from a prison a week before the crash, after being jailed for having an offensive weapon.

His sentence has since been referred by the solicitor general to the court of appeal under the unduly lenient scheme.

Gwendoline Harrison, 42, also of Wyken, a passenger in Brown’s car, was jailed for six months after admitting assault intending to resist arrest and attempting to flee the scene.

At the sentencing, Platt-May read out a victim impact statement written by the boys’ mother, Louise Platt-May. The statement said: “My heart is broken and time will never heal this. I love my boys with all my heart, and they will never be forgotten.”

In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international suicide helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org.