Freshwater man's death remains mystery after inquest

The body of Matthew Nimsil Christopher Doyle was found floating at sea, two nautical miles south of The Needles, in the English Channel, on June 20 last year.

Yarmouth RNLI Lifeboat recovered his body from the sea.

A widespread search was launched on May 26 last year after he was reported as a high-risk missing person.

Yarmouth RNLI lifeboat retrieved the body of Matthew Doyle from the sea, two nautical miles south of The Needles, on June 20 last year. Photo: RNLI

Above, file picture of Yarmouth RNLI Lifeboat

A number of people, mainly fishermen on Yarmouth Pier, saw Mr Doyle during the evening of May 25 — and he was last seen there during the early hours of the following day.

Mr Doyle's bag of belongings had been left on the pier.

Those who saw him described his behaviour as odd and erratic.

Opinion from witnesses, some of whom knew him as Matty, was mixed as to whether he had been drunk, affected by drugs or had mental health problems.

"All of the above could have been a factor that came into play," said Island Coroner, Caroline Sumeray.

John Gower-Crane, who saw him that evening, said in a statement: "Although Matty's behaviour wasn't normal, I didn't fear for his safety."

Billy Gulliver, who spoke to him at the pier entrance, said: "We were talking about fishing, when all of a sudden he came out with 'that water looks beautiful, doesn't it lads?' The comment seemed strange and came out of nowhere."

Yarmouth Pier, where Matthew Doyle was last seen by fishermen on May 25 last year.

A post mortem concluded the cause of Mr Doyle's death remains unascertained due to advanced decomposition, although a toxicology report revealed he had used cocaine and drank alcohol.

Mrs Sumeray gave an open conclusion because she could not say how he met his death and whether he jumped or fell into the water.

Mr Doyle, of Tennyson Road, was born in West Yorkshire, on June 14, 1979.

Other than an alcohol problem, Mr Doyle was "a man blessed with very good health", Mrs Sumeray commented.

DS Roger Whitewick, who led the investigation into Mr Doyle's death, concluded there had been no suspicious circumstances surrounding it.

Mrs Sumeray added: "He was at least under the influence of alcohol and cocaine before he died and his behaviour was not rational or of somebody who was stone-cold sober."