Man, 20, drowned after falling into river - inquest

An inquest into the death of a man whose body was recovered from a river six days after he went missing has concluded he died from drowning.

Jake Jones had been out with friends on 20 May when he fell into the River Wye near Tutshill in Gloucestershire.

The 20-year-old from Sedbury, Gloucestershire, climbed over a railing with a friend to sit on a grassy area before stepping onto soft foliage near the river's edge that could not support his weight, causing him to fall, the inquest on Thursday was told.

A post-mortem toxicology report showed "small amounts of alcohol and drugs" in Mr Jones’ body and that he had used cocaine "at some time prior to death".

The report concluded "it was not possible to determine the exact effects cocaine would have had" on Mr Jones but these were levels not usually associated with death".

Coroner, Roland Wooderson, recorded a narrative conclusion of drowning, citing the police investigation that stated Mr Jones "may have fallen into the water partly due to the use of alcohol and drugs".

Mr Wooderson said he was "grateful to the police for the investigation" and production of CCTV evidence that showed Mr Jones and a friend on the grassy area by the river in the minutes before he fell.

There was no footage showing the fall.

At the hearing, Mr Jones’ mother, Louise, said she felt she had not been informed in a timely manner by police that her son's body had been found.

She said the family had managed to find out through other means and they had no idea where his body was being kept for days afterwards.

Mrs Jones said the family eventually decided to try and find him at a mortuary.

"No mother should have to find your little boy in a mortuary," she told the inquest

Mrs Jones said she "could have gone to Jake and held his hand" had she been informed sooner.

"I knew that there were injuries he had but that was my choice [to make]," she said.

In a tribute after Mr Jones' body was found, his family said he "spread happiness everywhere", adding "he loved everyone and he was loved by everyone he met".

Gloucestershire Police declined to comment.

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