An ex-weightlifting champion died in his cluttered Cardiff home after becoming wedged between furniture, an inquest has revealed. Kum Weng Chung, known as Chung Kum Weng, was discovered by police in February of last year after a neighbor raised concerns about his welfare.
Officers found Mr. Chung obscured by piles of clothing, DVDs, and books next to a makeshift bed in his living room. Pontypridd Coroner's Court was told that the medical cause of his death was positional asphyxia, with no suspicious circumstances noted. Mr. Chung, originally from Malaysia, was a distinguished featherweight weightlifter. He won a silver medal at the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff and competed in the 1960 and 1964 Olympic Games, finishing 10th and 11th respectively. After moving to Wales eight years before the 1966 Commonwealth Games, he represented the country and secured a gold medal by lifting 337kg.
He later relocated to Cardiff, where he worked in a restaurant and subsequently as a bus driver. Locals affectionately referred to him as 'Dai,' and he once stated, "I'm a Welshman at heart." Mr. Chung, who never married and had no children, lived alone with his dog, Lucy.
His niece, Lai Sim Mayes, shared that Mr. Chung was private about his personal life. She noted that his mother's passing led to depression, and he incurred significant debt through gambling, forcing him to sell his house. Ms. Mayes recalled him training in his living room, surrounded by weights near the fireplace. She also mentioned his deep affection for Wales, attributing his decision to make it his home to the friendliness of its people and environment.
The court heard that Mr. Chung resided in a property provided by a friend rent-free, but his mental health challenges persisted. Area Coroner Patricia Morgan stated that Mr. Chung was known to hoard possessions, leading to extreme clutter in his home. The position in which Mr. Chung was found suggested he had fallen into a gap between furniture and was unable to free himself.
A well-attended funeral in Cardiff saw mourners and fans take to the streets to applaud the sports star. His dog, Lucy, led the procession to his resting place, with a Welsh flag draped over his coffin.
British Weightlifting expressed its sadness at his passing and extended condolences to his family and various sporting organizations, including Weightlifting Wales, Commonwealth Games Wales, the National Olympic Committee of Malaysia, and the Malaysian Weightlifting Federation.