Drowned man may have slipped (From Free Press Series)

Drowned man may have slipped

7:20pm Thursday 2nd July 2009

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A MAN who drowned in the River Usk may have lost his footing after drinking on New Year's Eve.

Andrew Stafford Griffiths, 52, of Nantyderry was returning home after celebrating on New Year’s Eve, his inquest in Newport heard. Gwent Coroner’s Court heard how Mr Griffiths went missing after seeing in the new year at the Chainbridge pub.

He failed to return to his home, a quarter of a mile away and Mr Griffiths’ father, Stafford Ronald Griffiths, called the police on January 5. Friends and officers conducted a search of the riverbank and the lorry driver’s body was found on January 10.

DC Martin Coombes said in a statement that Mr Griffiths left the pub between 2am and 2.30am and appeared to be intoxicated.

A postmortem examination carried out by pathologist doctor Geraint Evans said Mr Griffiths died of immersion in water. His blood alcohol level was two-and-a-half times the legal drink drive level.

Deputy coroner Wendy James recorded a verdict of found drowned.

She said: “The alcohol would have led to Mr Griffiths being unstable on his feet and maybe resulted in him losing his footing and stumbling into the river. But I can't be certain.”

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