Man who died in canal fall may have been disorientated due to dementia
A MAN who suffered from dementia died after he fell into a canal by accident due to becoming disorientated, an inquest heard.
David King’s body was recovered by police on the morning of Thursday, May 28, from the Erewash Canal in Ilkeston
Police were called to the scene, near to the Gallows Inn pub on Nottingham Road, after a member of the public discovered the body of the 70-year-old while walking to work.
Police found a bag next to the canal containing slippers and a teapot that had Mr King’s initials on it.
An inquest at Derby and Derbyshire Coroner’s Court heard how Mr King, a retired storeman, had gone missing the day before his body was discovered.
The medical cause of his death was recorded as drowning, with dementia stated as a contributing factor. The inquest heard that there was no evidence to suggest Mr King deliberately drowned and there was nothing that pointed to any third party involvement.
But Detective Constable Matthews from Derbyshire police told the inquest that she thought Mr King may have had in his mind he was going to work as he used to work near the canal before his retirement.
She said: “My theory is because of the hot weather he has got up a little early and he’s thought ‘this is what it would look like if I was going to work at 4/5am’ and that’s where he has gone. There is absolutely no evidence that he deliberately drowned.”
Coroner Louise Pinder concluded Mr King died as a result of an accident. She said: “David King accidentally fell into the canal near Thurman Street, Ilkeston, on May 27.
“I have made a formal finding he had been diagnosed with dementia and my finding is he became disorientated and as a result he fell into the canal.
“I offer my condolences to the family.”