Family on boating holiday found body floating in canal
A family on a boating holiday discovered the body of a man floating in a canal, an inquest heard.
Retired mechanic Albert Ford, who was suffering from Alzheimer's, had disappeared from his home last August and the alarm was raised by his sister
He was found a mile away from his home in Adams Road, Finchfied, in the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal off Bridgnorth Road by Mark Bickerdike who was on a canal-boat holiday with his wife and two children.
In a statement he said: "We approached Wightwick Lock and I noticed a wooden bench with some clothes on it.
"There was a jacket, walking stick and a baseball cap with glasses inside which I thought was strange.
"I looked into the overflow system which is part of the canal and I saw something that looked like a mannequin.
"My wife, who is a nurse, confirmed that it was a person. There was no movement so we called the police."
Walsall Coroner's Court heard the 75-year-old , who had never married or had children, suffered with Alzheimer's.
His sister Mary Ford said: "He was not in good health at all. He had absolutely no strength and he walked with a stick because his balance was off."
Miss Ford described him as a 'beautiful brother' and said nobody had a bad word to say about him.
She added: "It is such a shame that this has happened. He was quite calm and normal when I last saw him."
Black Country coroner Robin Balmain concluded that Mr Ford died as the result of an accident.
