Haslingden man drowned in shallow water (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Haslingden man drowned in shallow water

8:30am Wednesday 17th June 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

SECURITY railings have been erected nex to a brook where a Haslingden man is thought to have slipped and drowned in January.

Father-of-one Neil John O’Hara had battled back against a drink problem, had regular contact with his son and was looking forward to moving back to his home town from a flat in Water, Burnley Coroner’s Court heard.

But after Mr O’Hara left his home in Dean Fold, on either January 8 or 9, he stumbled into a brook near to Dean Lane.

Even though the water was only inches deep, consultant pathologist Dr Zuhir Twage confirmed he had drowned. No alcohol or drugs were found in his system.

Mr O’Hara, 49, was also suffering from broncho-pneumonia and was known to be unsteady on his feet following a serious accident two years ago.

His mother Rita O'Hara said: “Two weeks after the council put railings up there. People told me that they had complained about it before.

“They had taken some photographs and were going to bring the matter up. It needs someone to die before they do something.”

The inquest heard that Mr O'Hara’s body was found in the brook by neighbour Alan Cropper, who was returning home after dropping off his son at work in Burnley.

Mr Cropper said it was a misty morning and it appeared the body may have been there for some time.

Mrs O'Hara said her son, who she said was in constant pain with his feet, would often visit a nearby shop in Water, early in the morning.

The inquest was told by PC Bob Clark that there were coins and other small items found on the banking, close to where the body was found.

Recording an accidental death verdict, East Lancashire deputy coroner Mark Williams said he was satisified no one was involved in the death and Mr O’Hara had no intentions of harming himself.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)