ALCOHOL intoxication played a part in the tragic death of a man found dead in a river on the Isle of Wight, an inquest has heard.

Richard Ian Chase, of Waverley Road, Walthamstow, London, died in Newport on December 12, 2021.

An inquest into his death resumed at the Isle of Wight Coroners’ Court on Thursday, April 20.

A post-mortem revealed he suffered bruising to his forehead and right cheek, and a wound to his right eyebrow, and further findings were consistent with death by drowning.

Coroner, Caroline Sumeray, said 120mg of alcohol per decilitre was found in his system, which was consistent with a degree of intoxication – 80mg being the legal drink-drive limit.

The court heard Mr Chase had been visiting the Isle of Wight to meet up with friends and old work colleagues, and to see his young daughter.

One of his friends revealed how the pair, together with others, had drinks at the Hogs Head, and later at Fever and Boutique.

An Island Roads HGV driver, tasked with gritting the roads, said he saw something in the road causing an obstruction at approximately 2am.

He discovered it was a man and helped him to his feet. The man told him he was fine, and the witness helped him to safety.

Sometime later, he contacted police after recognising him to be the missing Richard Chase police had been looking for.

Officers conducted a search of the River Medina at approximately 7.30pm, and while walking toward the Premier Inn, they discovered the hood of a coat in the water.

With assistance from the Hampshire Police Marine Unit and Coastguard, a body was recovered from beneath the hull of a boat.

Mr Chase’s ex-partner reported him missing at approximately 5.45pm after he failed to collect his daughter and she was unable to contact him.

Further police enquiries revealed he left Fever and Boutique at around 1.20am, and was described as so intoxicated he was struggling to use his mobile phone.

The court heard the route to reach his hotel would have taken him along Newport Quay, and there were no suspicious circumstances leading up to his death.

His ex-partner described him as genuinely nice, polite and reliable; a good man who will be missed, especially by his daughter.

Mrs Sumeray said there was no evidence to suggest Mr Chase had deliberately taken his own life.

She concluded he died as a result of an accident, and there was a very sad lesson to be learned from his death.

Mrs Sumeray urged others to never get so drunk they can’t be safely ‘out and about’.

In the wake of the inquest, Mr Chase’s two sons, Callum and Brandon, said: “He was a man who was loved and adored by so many; a major figure in so many lives, especially his three children, who he loved so dearly.

“We are all beyond proud to have you as our dad, and we will do whatever we can to continue to make you proud.

“It still does not feel real that this has happened – a piece of us feels missing and always will.

“Each day gets harder and harder, but Dad we love and miss you so much, and would do anything to have you back here right by our sides.

“Love you mate, rest easy.”