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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Antony Thrower

Pub landlord who fell while taking photo was electrocuted when he grabbed wire

An inquest has been opened into the death of a beloved former pub landlord who died when he was electrocuted on holiday after falling and grabbing a live wire by mistake.

Ivan Brown, 71, was six weeks into a planned eight-week break and taking pictures in a tourist spot in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh when the tragedy happened.

His devastated family said Mr Brown was taking photos of the Himalayas when he lost his balance near a construction site and grabbed a nearby live wire for support.

Today an inquest into his death opened at Norfolk Coroner's Court on Monday and confirmed his cause of death was electrocution.

Mr Brown's death prompted widespread tributes from former colleagues and customers to "a great landlord.'

The father of three had been taking a photo of the Himalayas when he fell (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Following the incident his loved ones said they were "absolutely distraught and heartbroken" following the death of the man, who they described as " the heart and soul of our family".

Daughter Natalie Brown told the BBC : “He was very into photography and he was taking a photo of the Himalayas and as he stepped backwards we think he fell, he grabbed a live wire beside him which shouldn't have been live.

“He helped many people in so many ways. It's a great loss to the whole of Norwich and as a family we are all distraught and devastated.

"And this should never have happened; he should be coming home to us. We loved him dearly.”

Long-term friend Roy Bassett added to Norwich Evening News: “I first met Ivan 56 years ago when I was working as a representative for a Unilever tea company.

"He was a man of the highest integrity, he always displayed great empathy and he had a fierce determination and ambition…a lovely personality that was warm and friendly.

“I am extremely grateful and fortunate for Ivan's loyal friendship and I will greatly miss him and his cheerful, infectious smile - a smile that brightened people's lives and helped to forge so many lasting friendships.”

Mr Brown bought The Murderers' pub in Norwich in 1984 and ran it for over 30 years.

Jacqueline Lake, the senior coroner for Norfolk, adjourned the inquest until October 17.

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