Last updated 06:52, Friday, 18 July 2008

A COCKERMOUTH man died after drowning in the River Derwent, an inquest has heard.

Michael Andrew Renney, 59, of Papcastle Road, was found in the river on February 4 after spending a night drinking in the town.

Friends said he had been drinking during an annual hound trailing club meeting.

Margaret Cameron, of the Conservative Club, on Main Street, told how he went into the club and was merry.

She said: “I recall that he appeared to be more drunk than usual. He left at 9.30pm.”

His wife, Carol Ann, told the inquest that her husband usually walked home over a bridge across the river and she thought a street light nearby wasn’t working.

Mrs Renney added: “He was a homebody. He lived for the family.

“Nothing was ever too much trouble. He was well-known and liked by everyone locally. He was cheery and a true gentleman.”

She said he took over the family coal business 19 years ago when his father retired. He loved hound trailing, she added.

Mr Renney lived at Derwent Street. He attended St Joseph’s School in Cockermouth and St Joseph’s Secondary School, in Workington.

When he left school he started an apprenticeship at a local firm. He later went to work for his father’s coal merchant business.

Deputy coroner David Roberts described him as a “hard working, well-liked local business man who would do anything for anybody.”

“Nothing was any trouble for him,” he added.

“He was a family man. He was interested in sport and hounds.

“The night he died he had been to the annual party at Hundith Hill. He went home over the bridge. There is no way he could have fallen from that bridge.

“I am told that the light wasn’t working on the end of the bridge.

“My assessment is that he was walking home and was disorientated along that path. “He must have fallen over at some point.

“Having lost balance he must have stumbled. He must have fallen in at that point.

“It is sad and tragic for the family. He was obviously well loved and known by friends and family. It was a combination of circumstances.”

He recorded that Mr Renney died as a result of an accident. The cause of death was the result of drowning.