Boater died after falling in canal

AN INQUEST has heard that a boater riding back to his boat from a pub fell into the water and drowned.

Geoffrey Eave's body was discovered in the Leeds & Liverpool Canal near his boat that was moored near Heaton's Bridge at Burscough, Alan Tilbury tells us.

Near to his boat

At the inquest it was heard that he was found in the water some 100 yards away from his bike near to his boat Harriet, and as foul play was not suspected a verdict of accidental death was recorded.

This occurred during late July last year, and it was told that he had been drinking in nearby the Ship Inn, and had left the pub to cycle to his boat in the dark at 10.45pm.

Detective Inspector Coates told the inquest that he believed Geoffrey Eave was riding his bike along coping stones by the canal on rutted and uneven ground, and thus fell off into the canal.