A 75-year-old man fell into a stream and drowned probably because of his “confused” state, a coroner said.

The body of divorced John Bellamy was found off Washford Glen, Didcot, on March 2.

Friend Hannah Bennett said his behaviour was “unusual” and “confused” but not drunk on the evening of February 28.

Gordon McKay, who lived in the same Trent Road house as him, said he last saw Belfast-born Mr Bellamy at 9pm.

He said: “He seemed drunk because I could not understand what he was saying. I don’t think he seemed himself.”

Mr Bellamy had two pints of beer at the Ladygrove pub where he seemed his “usual self” said barman Stephen Doorman.

Amy Brennan – who was walking home – said she heard “moaning sounds” at the stream at about 11.20pm but walked on as she was alone and thought it was a drunk person urinating.

Washford Glen resident John Knight said he was alerted to the body by noises made by his cat at about 12.40pm on March 2.

A post mortem found a “very low” alcohol level and suggested he had a cardiac arrest on entering the water. He died from drowning.

Investigating officer DS Tom Rees said there was no street lighting at the scene, adding: “My opinion is he fell in because the banks were very steeped and not very easy to get in or out of.”

Recording a verdict of accident, Oxfordshire Coroner Darren Salter said yesterday that Mr Bellamy had a history of “confusion”.

He said: “It does seem sadly that I fell into the stream on his way home, probably due to confusion.”