An investigation has begun at a care home in Tilburg into how an 85-year-old man lay dead in his home undiscovered for five days.

Another resident at the Het Laar complex alerted staff after saying he had not seen the man at lunch for two days.

Staff said they thought the man was visiting his children and did not investigate. When a carer finally checked on him on Tuesday, the man was found dead in his chair.

Local paper Stentor says the man’s family, staff and other residents are shocked at what has happened. The man lived independently in a small apartment within the complex. He died a natural death, the paper says.