Overview

• Toxicology presented to the Morpeth inquest recorded 215 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood, compared with the 80 mg legal limit, and no drugs were detected.
• The cause of death was certified as immersion in water, with additional hand and foot injuries consistent with having been in the river for several days.
• Police said his Toyota Hilux was found unoccupied downstream of Abberwick ford after Storm Darragh, with the vehicle later discovered in reverse gear and showing damage from repeated impacts with a nearby footbridge.
• Accident evidence included a broken number plate at the water’s edge indicating an approach at speed, a visible ford warning sign, and a submerged depth pole on the far side of the crossing.
• Investigators told the coroner it remains unclear whether he tried to get out of the pickup or was swept from it, and the coroner was due to deliver a formal conclusion later on Monday.