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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Tom Duffy

Holidaymaker who 'loved life' died in Malta hotel swimming pool

A 27-year-old Runcorn man was pronounced dead in hospital after he was found floating on the surface of a swimming pool in Malta.

Police were called out to a pool at Triq it-Trunċiera, St Paul's Bay on July 15 last year following reports a man was unresponsive in the water.

Chris Dodd, a shop manager from Runcorn, was rushed to hospital where doctors were unable to save him.

READ MORE: Car fully submerged as woman crashes Audi into Queens Dock

Heath Westerman, assistant coroner for Cheshire, told a court how Mr Dodd was on holiday on his own when decided to visit the swimming pool at Triq it-Trunċiera.

Mr Westerman told the court police were called to the pool at around 7.45pm after Mr Dodd was seen to be unresponsive.

Attempts were made to revive the Cheshire man at the poolside and he was then transferred to Mater Dei Hospital

Doctors were unable to resuscitate Mr Dodd and he was pronounced dead.

Mr Westerman said local police viewed CCTV which showed Mr Dodd before the incident. He said the footage suggested Mr Dodd was walking 'poorly' toward the pool.

A toxicology report by the Maltese authorities found Mr Dodd had an alcohol reading of 90mg per litre, which is just over the 80mg per litre drink driving litre in the UK.

The assistant coroner said there was no evidence Mr Dodd's death was linked to anything criminal and there was nothing to suggest another person was involved in his death.

Mr Westerman read out a statement from Mr Dodd's family which said he had suffered with some mental health problems in the past after 'losing friends' but was 'loving life and enjoying himself' prior to his death.

Reading from the statement Mr Westerman said Mr Dodd received a Facetime call from a friend around one hour before the incident.

He was said to be a good swimmer.

He said: "I am satisfied that there was no deliberate attempt to end his life."

He recorded a verdict of misadventure at a read only hearing today (Wednesday) at Warrington Coroner's Court.

In the immediate aftermath of Mr Dodd's death, his friends set up a GoFundMe page to help repatriate his body and help with funeral costs.

Anthony Cade, who set up the page, wrote: "Chris was 27, and was a warm-hearted person who loved life and seized every opportunity to smile and have fun.

“His family are not well off and the significant cost of bringing Chris home and paying for a full funeral could be too large for it to even be a possibility for them.

“Chris was a friend to so many, so whether you donate £1, or £100 we want to raise as much as possible so that his family doesn't have to shoulder the burden of worrying how much it costs to have their son return home one final time.”

The Malta Police Force released a statement after Mr Dodd's death which read: "A 27-year-old man from the United Kingdom has unfortunately lost his life after he encountered difficulties while swimming in a pool at Triq it-Trunċiera, St Paul's Bay, yesterday, at around 1945hrs.

“The man was given first aid by people on site while waiting for paramedics and an ambulance took him to Mater Dei Hospital for treatment but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

“Duty Magistrate Dr Donatella Frendo Dimech LL.D is leading an inquiry whilst police investigations are still ongoing.”

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