The death of a man who drowned in the River Great Ouse in Bedford was an accident, despite claims he was murdered, an inquest has heard.

Charles Todd, of no fixed address, entered the river near Prebend Street on July 28 and was witnessed going under the water and not resurfacing.

Despite attempts by his friends and firefighters to rescue him, he was pronounced dead shortly after his body was recovered, Bedford Coroner's Court heard on Tuesday.

Police did not consider his death suspicious until a witness came forward on August 8, claiming the 39-year-old had been deliberately held under the water.

Det Insp Sharn Basra said: "It was suggested his death may not have been accidental and that he may have been held under the water by his feet.

"The source of the information is an individual of bad character. He had previously been arrested for being drunk and disorderly and has since been arrested and is on police bail.

"Scrap metal and cable was found in the river and firefighter Matthew Blanchard states Mr Todd's ankle was caught in the metal cable.
"Witnesses can provide clear evidence that Mr Todd was not held down by his feet."

Mr Todd was known to the Bedfordshie force, and Police Community Support Officer Georgina Kindred told the court she often saw him drunk, and had seen him wading into the river earlier on the morning of July 28, having been drinking.

A post mortem revealed he had consumed the equivalent of more than three times the drink drive limit.

Police discounted the claim that Mr Todd had been held down by his feet, and coroner David Morris recorded a verdict of accidental death.

He said: "On this occasion, and fairly typically, he was worse for drink. He went into the river where he got himself into difficulties and, despite the efforts of his friends and others, he could not be saved. I record that he died when entering the river while intoxicated."