Man literally drowned by cans of cider

BOATERS moored on the Ashton Canal by Bridge 3 at Dukinfield were shocked to discover a man floating in the water in the early evening, quickly pulling him out hoping he was still alive, but he was not.

Calling the emergency services, the police were the first to arrive, and could find no evidence of foul play, with the man having around £100 in his possession, Alan Tilbury reveals.

Crammed full of cans

At the later inquest into the death of Barry Dodd, it was told he had a very heavy backpack, that was crammed full of cans of cider, so it was thought he had slipped into the canal with the weight of his load pulling him under.

The inquest also heard that the day before the incident he had been drinking alcohol early in the morning, and carried on drinking in a pub in Ashton, and had 'a high dependency on alcohol'.

Stumbled

The policeman who was the first on the scene told that the towpath was a reasonable width, and that it was possible he stumbled, and  it was  impossible for him to get out due to the weight of his clothes and belongings.

The Coroner John Pollard recorded a verdict of accidental death at the inquest at Stockport coroners' court.