QUESTIONS remain unanswered over the death of a foreman weaver from Blackburn who was found in the River Blakewater by a passer-by, an inquest heard.

Alan McMillan, 60, was not seen for four days before his body was spotted by Kieran Kiyani in the river near Alder Bank on March 30, Blackburn Coroner’s Court was told.

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But East Lancashire consultant pathologist Dr Richard Prescott ruled out drowning as a cause of death and said it appeared Mr McMillan suffered an embolism due to a bone fracture.

The court heard that he was last seen by Mark Kinder, of Ewood Bikes, who was told by Mr McMillan that he had been beaten up during a burglary the previous night.

Mr Kinder said: “He was clearly shook up. I looked at him and he had some bruising on the side of his face.”

Detectives say that Mr McMillan, of Nottingham Street, made a 999 call on the night of March 25 and 26, alleging that youths were trying to steal his drainpipes and spoke of a noisy student house party and a van driving past his home.

Det Insp Eric Halford said officers attended and there was no evidence of a crime.

Neighbours also called the police after Mr McMillan left his home on March 26, leaving his front door open.

Robert McMillan, the deceased’s brother, said he received a ‘missed call’ from his brother on the same night.

“Whenever you spoke to him he would always say he was fine,” said Mr McMillan.

The inquest heard that Mr McMillan, a recovering alcoholic and a counsellor for the local branch of Alcoholics Anonymous, had suffered from depression.

Recording an open verdict Derek Baker, Blackburn assistant coroner, said it was not known how Mr McMillan had ended up in the water, his movements before his death, and how he may have suffered a bone fracture.

“There are just too many unanswered questions and I do not think that the precise circumstances of Mr McMillan’s death will ever become clear,” he added.