PART-time soldier Paul John McManus died after falling from a chimney stack while serving in Bosnia - the third of his parents' sons to die suddenly.

An inquest in Blackburn was told that the 38-year-old chef climbed a shoe factory in the early hours of the morning and the most likely reason was that he wanted to see the sun rise over the spectacular scenery around Mrkonjic Grad.

Paul lived at Pickering Fold, Blackburn, with his parents.

His father, George McManus, told the inquest he had lost one son, Colin, in 1975 and another, David, died earlier in 1999, after a heart attack.

Paul, an active member of the Labour Party in Blackburn, went to Bosnia with the catering support regiment. He had enjoyed two weeks home leave before returning in September.

On the day of his death he was seen by a colleague sitting outside his dormitory at 4.15am smoking a cigarette. His father said this was not unusual behaviour for Paul.

His body was found three hours later underneath scaffolding erected around the chimney.

Surgeon Major Justin Hammond told the inquest that because of the position of the body he had thought the fall could only have been from about 15 feet. But having heard that the post-mortem examination had revealed multiple injuries, including a compound fracture of the leg and a break in the spine, Major Hammond said it was unlikely he had only fallen that distance.

Sergeant Peter Burke, an army scenes of crime investigator, told how he had found Paul's footprints on the roof of the shoe factory to the foot of the ladders which led up the chimney.

He had also found bloodstains some distance away from where the body was found and said he believed Paul had dragged himself from where he fell to where he died.

He said the whereabouts of one of Paul's trainers remained a mystery. One was discovered near his body but the other was never found.

Sergeant Burke said the scenery around Mrkonjic Grad was impressive and described the views from the top of the chimney stack as spectacular.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, coroner Michael Singleton said it was quite clear that Paul had climbed on to the roof of the building and then to the top of the chimney.

"It is clear that from the top he has fallen to a point close to the base of the tower," said Mr Singleton.

"He then managed to move himself, no doubt with considerable effort, the relatively short distance to where the body was found."

He told Mr McManus that to lose a son in such tragic circumstances was quite terrible.

He added: "You have lost three sons in quite different ways and that is something for which you have my sincerest sympathy."

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