A RETIRED lecturer drowned in his garden pond after drinking alcohol, an inquest heard.

Martyn Leslie Salisbury, aged 63, was found dead by his partner on May 23 this year in the back garden of his home in Victoria Street, Northwick, Worcester.

The inquest, held in Stourport on Tuesday, heard that Mr Salisbury had 249mg of alcohol per litre in his blood (the drink-drive level being 80) before he fell in to the pond.

Coroner for Worcestershire, Geraint Williams, said Mr Salisbury was found lying in the pond by his partner.

"(Mr Salisbury's partner) had gone to work in the evening of May 23, and then had been out with friends. (She) came back to the house and found Mr Salisbury in the fish pond in the garden. He had had difficulty with alcohol for a small amount of time and he had fallen in to the fish pond on other occasions in the past.

"(His partner) called the emergency services for help when she found him. She got him out of the pond but he had already died.

"Paramedics attended and tried to help but they could not save his life."

Mr Salisbury's partner confirmed that she had arrived home at quarter to midnight but had not found Mr Salisbury outside until an hour later.

Mr Williams said: "Mr Salisbury, who had some problems with alcohol, had some how fallen in to the fish pond and drowned in the garden. The medical cause of death is drowning with alcohol as a contributing factor.

"I'm satisfied that this was an accident."

Addressing Mr Salisbury's partner and daughter, Mr Williams said: "I can't imagine how hard this is for you but I send my condolences to yourself and to the rest of the family."

He recorded a verdict of accidental death.