AN open verdict has been recorded at the inquest into the death of a Newton Abbot man, whose body was washed up at Gales Hill, Teignmouth, in December.

South Devon Coroner Hamish Turner said there was not enough evidence to prove whether 92-year-old Stanley Lawer had deliberately thrown himself into the river, or had fallen in as a result of a heart-attack.

No suicide note was found.

Mr Lawer, a widower and retired charge nurse, lived alone at the Alms Houses at Mackrells Terrace, Newton Abbot. He had a history of heart trouble, and suffered from angina. In March, 2002, he suffered a heart attack and had to be resuscitated.

Three months later he broke a femur and had already embarked on a course of physiotherapy when he died. Mr Lawer's GP, Dr Michael Richard's, said, that at the time of his death, his mood and his mobility were variable.

Following the death of Bertram Barber, a friend who was found drowned at the Town Quay in Newton Abbot in September, Mr Lawer had talked about committing suicide. According to Mr Lawer's nephew, Barry Lawer, he had remarked: 'If I had the strength that is how I would like to go.'

Mr Lawer disappeared from his home on Thursday, December 5, and a police search was conducted after the alarm was raised by his nephew, the warden of the Alms Houses.

'His mobility wasn't great,' said Barry Lawer, 'but obviously he must have walked down Linden Terrace and gone left or right along the river. I'm sure he was very clear about what he was going to do.'

Mr Lawer's body was discovered at the small beach area of Gales Hill – also known as The Tank – late the same morning, by Justin Ravenhall of West Cliff, Dawlish. The body had become stuck, face down, beneath a small fishing boat by the outgoing tide.

Dr John Bridge, who carried out an autopsy at Torquay mortuary the following day, recorded the cause of death as drowning.

Delivering his verdict, Mr Turner, said: 'It is clear that the cause of death was drowning, but we have got no way of knowing whether he was swept down the river from the Lemon or walked to the River Teign. It is possible he had a heart attack and fell in but on the other hand, he may have intended to. As his nephew suggested, he had been unhappy, and may have thrown himself in.

'For this reason, as there is insufficient evidence either way, I will record an open-verdict.'