"When we went through the door it was like a scene from a horror movie" says sister after horrific find.
A dying man was found covered in maggots by his devastated sister despite police being called TWICE to check on him.
Carole Mitchell was left stunned after finding brother Peter slumped on his sofa with maggots crawling out of his legs last Wednesday.
The tragic ex-squaddie was rushed to hospital, but died on Monday and an inquest is to be held to determine his cause of death.
But Carole has criticised Lancashire Police for failing to do a welfare check on her brother despite two separate requests.
Carole, who has arachnoiditis - a debilitating spinal condition - said she rang 101, the police's non-emergency number, to request a welfare check last Tuesday and was asked by the operator why she could not do it herself.
Mrs Mitchell, who lives in North Yorkshire, said it was a two-hour drive for her and she has a disability. She was then told to check with the local hospitals, but was refused help as she could not prove she was a relative.
Devastating: Despite efforts to save him, Peter died on Monday
Carole called 101 again the following day and was put through to a number which rang unanswered for eight minutes.
It was at that point Carole, who had not heard from her brother since July 15, decided to go to his house in Accrington, Lancashire, to check on him with her daughter.
"When we went through the door it was like a scene from a horror movie. The first thing that hit you was the smell and then all you could see were bluebottles flying around," said Carole, 55.
She added: "It was my daughter who found him.
"He was collapsed in his chair and there was blood and excrement everywhere. He was covered in maggots and bluebottles.
"He looked like a homeless person. The hair growth and his nails. He actually looked better after he had passed away, which is an awful thing to say.
"Me and my daughter will be traumatised for life."
Carole said her 64-year-old brother had lost a substantial amount of weight and she said doctors had told her they would not be able to resuscitate her brother because of how weak he was.
She added: "I don't know if that 24 hours would have made a difference, but you never know.
"But even so, nobody realised he was there for three weeks. I am angry with myself."
Mr Mitchell, a former soldier in the Royal Corps of Signals had suffered a stroke in November 2013 and although he had limited mobility and used a zimmer frame he lived independently.
A Lancashire police spokeswoman said: "I can confirm a complaint has been made and we are looking in to it."
Mr Mitchell leaves behind sister Carole, brother Ian, two daughters, a son, grandchildren, and a niece.
