Man's pool death was heart attack: inquest

An inquest into the death of 65-year-old Alan Hughes, who lived in Clifford Road, heard how a post mortem examination in Sri Lanka concluded he died of drowning on January 27 this year.

However later investigation by pathologist Dr Ian Hawley of the Conquest Hospital revealed “significant” narrowing of the arteries, which had coroner Alan Craze recording a verdict of death by natural causes.

Mr Hughes, who was a retired businessman, had arrived in Kalutara the day before but was well used to travelling and not affected by heat according to his partner Fredderick Helstrip.

However at approximately 6.45pm he found him floating on his back in the pool and pulled him out of the water with the help of a member of staff.

Mr Hughes was 6ft 1in and weighed approximately 105kg and they struggled with his weight. Mr Helstrip said he got some water out of his mouth and throat, but not much.

He added that Mr Hughes always swam with his head well above water for fear of getting it in his ears and always swam breastroke.

Dr Hawley, who carried out a second post mortem examination on February 9, thought cardiac arythmia had “rendered him unconscious” and led to cardiac arrest. He thought the deceased had been at risk of a heart attack at any time, not just while he was swimming.