A RETIRED solicitor drowned after he suffered a heart attack and fell into the Worcester Birmingham canal.
Nicholas Graizerbrook had been navigating his boat through Lock 21 at Stoke Prior.
"He was an experienced pilot of such things," said Worcester coroner Victor Round at the inquest opening yesterday.
"It was almost certainly his own boat.
"His wife tried to pull him out but found it difficult because of the layout of the area," Mr Round said, at the inquest at County Hall.
"She tried to give him CPR and eventually members of the public gave assistance."
Mr Round said the 64-year-old, from Steps Cottage, Wolverley had suffered a cardiac arrest at 4.10pm on Tuesday, August 20.
Mr Graizerbrook was taken to the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch.
The cause of death was given as drowning and hypothermia with trauma to the chest and neck as contributing factors.
Mr Round adjourned the inquest for three months for reports to be prepared.
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