A WILTSHIRE deputy coroner has recorded an open verdict on the death of Robert Wood, whose body was found in the Kennet and Avon Canal near Devizes just before Christmas, despite hearing Mr Wood was likely to have been very drunk and unsteady on his feet.

Nigel Brookes said he could not bring in a verdict of accidental death because there was not enough evidence to do so.

He told the inquest at Chippenham magistrates court last week: "Although accidental death would be an attractive conclusion I am not convinced the evidence is clear enough. An open verdict is more appropriate under these circumstances."

Mr Wood's body was found shortly before 2.30pm on December 21 last year by a team of divers from Thames Valley Police's underwater search unit, a short distance from where his narrowboat was moored at the top of Caen Hill flight of locks.

His brother Geoff told the inquest that Mr Wood, 63, had a difficult childhood and as a result had a 'fragile ego'.

He was taken away from his parents by his aunt and brought up by his grandparents for six to nine months.

Mr Wood described his brother as emotionally deprived. Robert Wood joined the RAF as an apprentice at the age of 15 and became a flight engineer on V bombers, leaving the service in 1976, at the age of 38, by which time he reached the rank of Flight Lieutenant.

He lived and worked in Saudi Arabia for the Lockheed Corporation. His wife Linda told the inquest that he developed a serious drink problem while he was out there and when he came home on two weeks' leave, it was spent drying out before going back.

Mrs Wood, from Sandy Lane, Bromham, said that he became quite ill and went into hospital for a while. When he came out he stayed off drink for 13 or 14 years.

However, the couple experienced problems and agreed to a trial separation. Mr Wood left home a few days before Christmas 2000. He started drinking again the following February, and entered the Priory Clinic in Birmingham in April. He appeared to be much better after his period there but he began drinking again in September.

Mrs Wood said she was aware her husband had formed a relationship with Gillian Eyles, who he had met while working in Fareham, Hants. It had been going on for seven to eight years.

Mrs Wood had kept in touch with her husband throughout the period when he lived on the narrowboat and the couple were discussing a reconciliation at the time of Mr Wood's death.

She said: "I knew the only way to get him well was to get him back to hospital.

"He continued to love me. After all, we had been together for 30 years."

On Thursday December 20 Mrs Wood was unable to contact her husband by phone so visited his boat at about 9.30am. The doors were open and the television and fan heater were on but there was no sign of Mr Wood. Concerned, she called Geoff Wood who alerted the police.

A statement by Gillian Eyles was read out. She said she had a relationship with Mr Wood based on friendship and companionship, though they had had sexual relations.

When Mr Wood left his wife, however, he seemed to want something more that she was unable to provide, so the relationship foundered, though they parted on good terms.

Then she started to get phone calls from him accusing her of being a lesbian. Although Mr Wood said he was depressed, at no time did he say he was contemplating suicide, said Ms Eyles.

A statement from Louise Tinnion, an assistant at the Spar shop on Bath Road where Mr Wood bought most of his supplies, said that she remembered Mr Wood coming in at about 7pm on Wednesday December 19 to buy two bottles of vodka and some food. He was wobbly on his feet but otherwise fine.

Mr Brookes said Miss Tinnion was probably the last person to see Mr Wood alive.

A post mortem examination report from Dr Clare Fuller, consultant pathologist at Salisbury District Hospital, said Mr Wood had enough alcohol in his blood to make him 3.8 times over the drink/drive limit. He would have walked with an unsteady and staggering gait and could easily have fallen over.

She put the cause of death as freshwater drowning due to acute alcoholic intoxication. Despite this, Mr Brookes felt unable to come to anything other than an open verdict.