A MAN who had been drinking heavily while canoeing on the Llangollen Canal died as the result of an accident, Shropshire coroner John Ellery has ruled.

Craig Michael Batha, 48, died at Wrexham Maelor Hospital on Saturday, April 16 after he had been found face down in the water 24 hours earlier.

At an inquest into his death at Shirehall in Shrewsbury on Tuesday, July 26, it was heard that a toxicology report carried out after he died, Mr Batha had 218 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, nearly three times the legal limit.

However, according to a statement from Detective Sergeant Laura Breeze, from West Mercia Police, there was no suspected foul play around Mr Batha's death with drowning given as the cause.

She said it was clear that Mr Batha often canoes.

She added: "Witnesses saw him pumping up an inflatable canoe and he was seen laying down and paddling which was considered odd.

"He went past again but was paddling normally."

DS Breeze added that Mr Batha was found in the canal by walkers but they were unable to get to him initially.

Mr Ellery said: "I have no evidence that Mr Batha’s death was deliberate and while it was unwitnessed, I conclude his death was accidental.

"We don’t know exactly what happened to him but it must have been an accident."