Being unable to ascertain the exact circumstances which led to his death, has led HM Coroner from Pembrokeshire, Mr. Michael Howells, to record an open verdict on a man found dead on Coppet Hall beach last April.

An inquest in Milford Haven last Thursday heard that a lady walking her dog had found 57-year-old Geoffrey Clive Torkington face down in a stream on the beach at around 6.15 pm on April 6.

He had last been seen alive in Saundersfoot village at around 2.30 pm, but his later movements were not known, although a post mortem revealed that Mr. Torkington had consumed more than double the drink-drive limit of alcohol prior to his death.

PC. Mike Smith, stationed in Saundersfoot, told the inquest that Mr. Torkington was originally from Stockport, but had moved to Penally with his family at the age of four.

He had served in the Merchant Navy for a short time, and had had a variety of jobs, including a period of being self-employed. For the last 20 years he had been living in Cardiff.

PC Smith explained that Mr. Torkington, an insulin dependent diabetic, had an alcohol dependency problem and in 1998 he had been admitted to the Shoreline project in Grangetown, Cardiff.

In 2000 he had been admitted to Llandough Hospital with alcohol related problems and on his release he had returned to Shoreline. He was again admitted to the Heath Hospital in December 2000 and stayed there for some 12 weeks.

On leaving hospital he went to Shoreline, collected his possessions and said he was returning home to Pembrokeshire.

He arrived at the home of a friend, Henry Langen, in Narberth on April 4.

Mr. Langen's partner, Evelyn Askew, called round to see Mr. Langen the following morning to discover Mr. Torkington present.

She discovered that Mr. Torkington had not ben taking his medication and took him to Narberth Health Centre, where Dr. Woods issued a prescription.

Mr. Torkington had stayed the night in Narberth and Ms. Askew had taken him to Saundersfoot on April 6 and had dropped him off at the launderette.

Mr. Torkington had visited the offices of Frank B. Mason in the village inquiring about property in the area and had then gone to the Spar shop.

He left the shopping he purchased at the Spar and said he would be back to collect it, but did not return.

He was later found by Mrs. Jacqueline Miller, of Cardiff, who was walking her dog on Coppet Hall beach while staying the weekend at her holiday home in Summerhill.

In a written statement, Barry Johns, of Shoreline, Cardiff, said that Mr. Torkington was in "generally poor health" which was "consistent with hardened drinking."

After his second period in hospital, Shoreline had said that they were no longer able to provide support to him, but this did not seem to concern him as he intended to return to Pembrokeshire.

Mr. Johns said that when he collected his belongings, Mr. Torkington had appeared confused, but "appeared better than he had been. "

Ms. Askew, of 5 Castle Street, Narberth, said that she had been surprised to see Mr. Torkington at Mr. Langen's, although both had been told by his family that he "could be coming."

She was quite shocked by the disarray Mr. Torkington had caused to the living room with his belongings, and after a conversation with him she felt that he should either go to hospital or visit a doctor.

Mr. Torkington had agreed to visit a doctor.

"He was in a hell of a state," Ms. Askew told the inquest. "I felt that it was impossible for him to stay with Henry."

Mr. Torkington again did not seem worried and had said that he would camp somewhere for the night.

"We came to a compromise whereby I let him camp in my garden until we could find him somewhere more permanent," explained Ms. Askew.

The following day, Ms. Askew contacted Mr. Torkington's family and social services and his mother turned up to see him later in the morning.

"She gave him some money and suggested he go back to Cardiff as he would be better cared for there," said Ms. Askew. "She's an elderly lady and it would be hard for her to cope."

Ms. Askew told Mr. Torkington that she would drive him anywhere he wanted, and suggested that he return to the health centre, but Mr. Torkington said that he wanted to go to Saundersfoot and to drop him at the launderette so he could wash his clothes.

"He told me he would be fine and not to worry," said Ms. Askew.

In a statement, office manager of Frank B. Mason, Saundersfoot, Mrs. Ann Deacon, of Penally, said that Mr. Torkington had called in inquiring about purchasing property in the area.

She had given him a list of properties available and told him to come back for more details of any that interested him.

He returned half-an-hour later, without the list, and appeared confused. Mrs. Deacon smelled alcohol and felt that Mr. Torkington could have been drunk.

Manager of the Spar Store, Mary Philpin, of Begelly, said in her statement that she had spotted Mr. Torkington in the shop "looking like he was looking for something."

She had offered him help, but Mr. Torkington said he was okay.

When he reached the checkout, it transpired that Mr. Torkington did not have enough money on him for the goods and Mrs. Philpin had assisted him in going through his bags to reduce the amount.

Mr. Torkington told Mrs. Philpin that he was going to the launderette to fetch his clothes and get a taxi and asked if he could leave his goods in the shop until he returned.

Mrs. Philpin said that Mr. Torkington had looked "a little confused and vacant," but could not recall smelling alcohol.

A post mortem conducted by Dr. Stephen Polarkis gave the cause of death as drowning, although added that alcohol could have played a part, with blood readings of 181 mg in 100 ml. The legal drink-drive limit is 80 mg.

Mr. Howells said that this was "a desperately sad case."

"Mr. Torkington's health had gradually deteriorated through over indulgence of alcohol and, when he could no longer be cared for by a project in Cardiff, he had decided to return to Pembrokeshire," said Mr. Howells.

"It is clear that all the 'lay' people involved were not capable of caring for him, although they did their best.

"Mr. Torkington was not concerned and felt he could take care of himself. Indeed, it appears he was organising his life quite constructively in Saundersfoot.

"Nothing is known of his movements after leaving the Spar, although he had consumed a lot of alcohol, twice the driving limit, by the time of his death," Mr. Howells continued.

"There is insufficient evidence to ascertain the exact circumstances leading to Mr. Torkington's death and the only proper verdict I can reach is an open one."