Man drowned in Walsall Arboretum lake minutes after drink-drive crash

Christopher Mills, aged 26, was driving his yellow Renault Megane when it hit a garden fence on Buchanan Avenue on April 15.

Smethwick Coroner's Court heard that Mr Mills, known locally as 'Millsy', had made off into the arboretum, while wearing a cast on his right leg, with his friend Danny Green after the crash. The pair then jumped numerous fences to get away from the scene.

Coroner Zafar Siddique gave a conclusion of accidental death.

However the circumstances leading up to Mr Mills entering the water remain unclear. His family have vowed to fight for answers, describing him as 'a ray of sunshine'.

Det Sgt Craig Newey told the court: "CCTV showed Millsy emerge from a bush at a residential premises and he started saying to staff 'they are after me, they are after me'. He broke a rear window at the back of the property and crawled out to get away.

"He was seen at a property at on Arboretum Road trying to gain access to a Ford Galaxy but with no success. He then climbed into another property and landed on his back.

"The footage gave the impression he felt he was being followed but there's no evidence of a third party there."

The court heard how police had been called to the initial road accident and then to reports of criminal damage.

Pc Ben Willetts, had responded to a call that someone was drowning in the lake.

He said:" On arrival I asked where the male was last located and I was pointed to a small amount of bubbles coming from the lake.

"I saw a male's head come up above the surface and his chin was up as he was gasping for air. He went back under the water.

"I went into the water but found it difficult to locate Mr Mills as I was tiring from treading water. The life rings were of poor quality and struggled to support my weight."

In all, four police officers jumped in to try and save Mr Mills, of Stag Hill Road, Blakenall, but with no success.

His cousin Michelle Berry told the hearing he was a strong swimmer explaining: "He was a fit young lad. He knew how to swim because I have all his certificates at home."

Mr Mills was recovered from the water the following day and pronounced dead at 4.11pm.

Mr Siddique read a pathologist report that said: "The level of alcohol in his system at the time was twice the drink drive limit. The limit is 80 milligrammes in 100 millilitres of blood. Mr Mills' was 160 milligrammes."

The medical cause of his death was determined as drowning

Mr Siddique concluded: "This was an accidental death. From the evidence something triggered him to leave the scene whether this was either neighbours to the crash scene or the police.

"Whatever the reason he decided to enter the water."

Speaking after the hearing Mr Mills' grandmother Polly Vaughan said: "He was my little Del Boy. A ray of sunshine who would do anything for anyone he was so loved by everyone who knew him."

Ms Berry vowed the family would search for answers into his death: "We will continue leafleting around the area. I believe he was being chased so we want to know by who. Someone must have the answer."