Drinker’s pier-fall death was an accident, inquest is told

A MAN died after falling from a pier “drunk”, an inquest has heard.

Steven John Beattie, 47, died on July 9, 2018. An inquest into his death, held at Pontypridd Coroner’s Court, was told he fell from Porthcawl pier before being seen “face down in the water”.

The inquest heard CPR was conducted at the scene but he was later taken to the Princess of Wales Hospital, in Bridgend, and put on life support. He died days later.

At the inquest a statement was read out on behalf of Dr Sarah Spencer, who works at the Princess of Wales Hospital. She was on duty when the hospital was alerted to the incident.

Referring to the statement, Coroner Andrew Barkley said: “He was admitted at 8.40pm. He was attended to by the trauma team.

“The notes from care documents report that they were informed he had been seen falling 30 feet into the water.”

The inquest was told about Mr Beattie’s issues with substance misuse.

Mr Barkley read a statement on behalf of social worker Claire Day.

In the statement Ms Day recalls visiting Mr Beattie in 2017, when she found him in a “very poor condition”.

She also confirmed he spent some time homeless, but would sometimes find accommodation at a bed and breakfast.

The statement read: “He ended up at Royal Glamorgan Hospital with pneumonia. He was discharged and admitted to the bed and breakfast.

“He would not turn up for pre-arranged visits. He was an alcoholic.”

The inquest heard Mr Beattie sustained a brain injury and was put on life support, but active treatment was later removed.

Concluding, Mr Barkley said: “I record that he died from an accident.”