Railway fan died after day out on narrow boat (From Warrington Guardian)

Railway fan died after day out on narrow boat

10:50am Thursday 21st March 2013 in News

A POPULAR railway enthusiast died after a family day out on his narrow boat.

Trevor Rowe, aged 65, had taken early retirement from his job as a railway worker but still pursued his passion by volunteering with the East Lancashire Railway.

Cheshire Coroner’s Court heard on Friday how Trevor, of Dunmow Road, Thelwall, filled his time with work with the railways and his love of boating.

His wife Christine said: “He took early retirement but we didn’t want him to. He always feared retiring at 65 and dying.

“Once he retired he said he didn’t know how he had time to work with all his hobbies.

“He was very confident on the boat, he was never frightened of the water and he had been in once or twice.”

On September 22 he took his son Chris and his friends boat on a trip to Lymm along the Bridgewater Canal The group stopped off for a drink at a pub in the village before heading back where they dropped his son’s friends off at Stockton Heath.

Trevor, Chris and Julie Greaves stayed on board to travel up to Moore where the boat was to be moored and his son and Julie fell asleep.

Chris told the inquest: “I remember waking up and it felt like the boat was against the bank. It was one of those where you know something is not right.”

The cord to stop the engine was pulled out further than normal but the engine was still running and Trevor was missing.

The boat was also angled towards the canal.

By this point Christine, who was due to pick Trevor up had walked down the canal to find him.

When she discovered the boat she knocked on Geoff Tier’s boat nearby and asked for his help in switching off the engine.

With the boat moored up they discovered Trevor’s body in the water.

The coroners court heard he had previously suffered from two heart attacks and a post mortem revealed he had an enlarged heart and a condition called sarcoidosis which caused nodules to form and has been known to cause sudden cardiac death.

Deputy Coroner for Cheshire Janet Napier recorded a narrative verdict.

She said: “He fell from his boat into the water and drowned. This fall wasn’t witnessed and he was suffering from undiagnosed sarcoidosis and it is likely he suffered from heart problems.”

The cause of death was recorded as drowning with an enlarged heart contributing to his death.