AN INQUEST has opened into the death of man at Pontcysyllte Aqueduct last month. 

Paul James Handforth, of Long Lane, Haughton, Tarporley, died on August 22. 

At County Hall in Ruthin on Monday (September 9), an inquest was opened into the 37-year-old's death.

It heard that on the morning of August 22, a member of the public walking along the aqueduct reported seeing a person in the water below. 


What happens at an inquest and what can the press report?

Reporting on inquests is one of the most difficult jobs faced by any journalist, but there are important reasons why local newspapers attend coroner’s court hearings and report on proceedings.

Here we will try and answer some of your questions about what will happen, what can be reported and why.


Police officers attended and found a person face down in the water.

The fire service subsequently attended to retrieve the body, later identified as Mr Handforth, from the water, and the death was sadly confirmed at 11.40am. 

A pathologist's provisional cause of death following a post-mortem examination is head injury. 

A full inquest has been adjourned until a later date.