A MAN taken by air ambulance to hospital after being found unconscious behind the wheel of his car on a remote country lane was later found to be more than four times the drink-drive limit.

Blackburn magistrates heard Nigel Madden was taken to Leeds General Infirmary by helicopter with a “mystery” condition.

But subsequent inquiries showed his unconscious state was due to his high alcohol consumption. And police established he had driven 77 miles before his car rolled into a ditch three miles from his home.

Madden, 61, of Gisburn Road, Bolton-by-Bowland, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

He was made subject to a community order for 15 months with 150 hours unpaid work, banned from driving for 30 months and ordered to pay £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.

Enza Geldard, prosecuting, said Ian Wells was driving home from work along Stump Cross Lane, Bolton-by-Bowland, when he saw a car in the road ahead.

He pulled into a passing place and flashed for the car to come through.

“There was no response and after a minute it became apparent it wasn’t going to move,” said Mrs Geldard.

“The witness drove forward slowly and as he got close realised the other vehicle was moving very slowly and was rolling towards a ditch.”

The car went into the ditch and when Mr Wells went to investigate he saw the defendant still in the driver’s seat with his seatbelt on.

“He tried to ask if he was all right but got no response,” said Mrs Geldard. “With the help of another motorist he got the defendant out of his car and put him in the recovery position as instructed by ambulance control.

“Paramedics arrived and treated him at the side of the road but were unable to rouse him or get any kind of response from him. They suspected he had a serious condition.”

Madden was flown to Leeds General Hospital and at 8pm, two hours after he was found, blood specimens were taken. When it was analysed the sample showed 325 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood against the legal limit of 80.

Elliot Smith, of the probation service, who prepared a pre-sentence report, said Madden said he had been fishing in Cumbria and at some stage he had fallen into the river. The river keeper had given him a cup of coffee with some whisky in it.

“As far as he knows that is all he had to drink but clearly that isn’t the case,” said Mr Smith.

“His memory of leaving Cumbria and getting to within three miles of his home is virtually non-existent. It is concerning that he had driven 77 miles and didn’t remember it.”

Ashley Barnes, defending, said his client clearly had more to drink than the whisky he remembered.

“Something has happened, he just doesn’t remember what,” said Mr Barnes.

“It is 23 hours of his life, until he woke in hospital the following day, that he simply can’t explain.”