THE death of a Droitwich pensioner who was found in the canal earlier this year has been ruled an accident by the Coroners court.
Coronor Geraint Williams concluded, on Friday (April 15), the cause of Keith John Gills’, of Swan Drive, was drowning.
The 68-year-old was found in the canal just before 5pm near the Barley Mow Pub on January 21 just 60 meters away from his home after he was reported missing by his partner, Pamela Dickinson, who had not seen him for a few days.
The court heard Mr Gill had been out with friends on the evening of Friday (January 15) where he consumed alcohol, which the pathologist said was enough to have put him five times over the legal drink drive limit, had he been behind the wheel.
There was discussion of underlying heart disease which may have caused a slight arrhythmia leading him to feel faint and to have fallen into canal.
Friends described him as wearing a light blue shirt and a woolen v-neck jumper which according to Mr Gill’s sister was different to the clothes he was found in which police noted as a big jacket and walking boots.
The coroner therefore decided Mr Gill had made his way home that night and left in the early hours of the next morning to collect a paper, which he did most days.
Mr Williams said: “Based on the evidence as I find he was heavily under the influence of alcohol. There was no suggestion he was assaulted or pushed and it would be foolish to think he deliberately jumped, I say that just to dismiss it. Perhaps he weaved and stumbled and fell.
“Legally and practically this was an accident.
“Please accept my condolences to you and the rest of family.”
