Holidaymaker drowned after falling off boat in Poole

A holidaymaker drowned after falling into the water from his boat in Poole, an inquest has heard.

David Bidmead, 61, of Staffordshire, was enjoying a holiday on his newly-purchased boat when he fell into the water.

He died 10 days after he was pulled from the water at Salterns Marina in Lilliput in the early hours of July 13

Bournemouth Coroner's Court heard he was found in the water by his wife, Cristina Bidmead.

According to the Bournemouth Echo, Mrs Bidmead said she went to bed at around 11.45pm and her husband told her he was going to have one last cigarette before joining her.

She told the court: "At just after 1.30am I heard a muffled noise which appeared to be coming from the bottom of the boat.

"I ran to the stern calling out for David. I could see there was nobody onboard on the deck. I came around the back of the boat and saw him in the water."

Mrs Bidmead called for help and Douglas Burden, who was the duty night watchman at the marina rushed over to the boat and pulled Mr Bidmead from the water and called an ambulance.

Mr Bidmead was taken to Poole hospital and was later transferred to St Thomas Hospital in London but he failed to regain consciousness.

He passed away on July 14.

A post-mortem gave the causes of death as hypoxic brain injury caused by drowning. Ischemic heart disease and a chest infection were also listed as secondary conditions that contributed to his death.

East Dorset coroner Sheriff Payne said: "There are no signs of a heart attack or anything like that which may have caused him to fall into the water."

Related stories

Search for missing man in Poole Harbour called off

British teen drowns while swimming with dolphins in Mauritius