Tragedy of ex-Marine found dead in the Tyne
FISHERMAN DIED AFTER NIGHT OUT
MOVING tributes have been paid to a loving dad who died after drowning at the North Shields riverside.
Robert Montgomery, originally from Ireland, was working on a fishing vessel called the Illustrious when he went missing on November 12 last year.
A search was launched by police but his body was pulled from the Tyne two days later.
An inquest heard that the boat was at Royal Quays Marina and Mr Montgomery was among the crew.
Witnesses said the Illustrious and some other fishing trawlers remained moored at the site all day on November 12 due to the weather conditions which prevented them from going fishing.
Several crew members from the boats decided to go for a drink in local pubs or to the Royal Quays shopping centre.
Mr Montgomery went to the Mariner’s Arms where a minor altercation took place before he and an acquaintance took a taxi back to the marina at night.
It was said the 36-year-old was in a drunken state when he left the pub.
At the marina, he was seen climbing down the ladder on the harbour wall and making his way to the Illustrious but was not seen again.
He was reported missing and a search was carried out before he was found in the water on November 14.
A police investigation concluded that Mr Montgomery was known to be intoxicated on the day he went missing and was unsteady on his feet, and he may have accidentally fallen from the boat.
A post-mortem examination found his death was due to drowning and acute alcohol toxicity contributed to that.
Deputy coroner for North Tyneside Trevor Carroll said: “No one actually saw it happen. No eye witnesses saw exactly what has happened and how it occurred.” Recording a narrative verdict, he said: “He has died due to drowning with a contribution from acute alcohol toxicity.”
After the hearing, Mr Montgomery’s partner Deborah Courtney and best friend Wilson Morrison said he was sorely missed by all family and friends, including his two-year-old daughter Bella.
When they found out he was missing, they boarded a flight from Ireland to the North East.
However, they were told his body had been found as soon as they arrived at the airport.
Deborah, 35, said: “We were hopeful that he would be found safe. But we were in mid-air when they found Robert. It was devastating.”
Paying tribute to him, she added: “He was so friendly and outgoing. He just loved life.”
And Wilson, 38, who grew up with him, said: “He would always help others and would do anything to make you happy.”
Mr Montgomery was in the Royal Marines for nearly 10 years and went into maritime security before taking up fishing in 2016.
He came to fish in North Shields from October to January, and he was in the middle of his second season in the North East when he died. Wilson Morrison