'Words cannot describe our ordeal,' says tragic Daniel Hodgin's mother

Lorraine Firmstone described her son as a man with a "mature head", who "would always make us smile with his cheeky ways", in a statement read out at his inquest.

The inquest into Mr Hodgin's death recorded a conclusion of "accidental death by immersion in water" at the River Severn in Shrewsbury on November 23 last year.

Mr John Ellery, coroner for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, heard that Mr Hodgin, 20, had been out drinking with friends in Shrewsbury on November 22, before going missing at around 5.27am.

Mr Hodgin's body was found in the River Severn at Cressage on December 31.

Mrs Firmstone's statement said: "Words cannot describe how as a parent you feel when you don't know where your child is and the thought he will never come walking through the door is not something that I can now even imagine.

"I know Dan would never have gone anywhere near that water, had he have known that it was a river as he was not keen on swimming and regardless of how drunk he was, Dan was always very sensible and aware of danger."

Mr Ellery said it was probable that Mr Hodgin had fallen into the river after becoming lost and walking through a gate to the towpath at Dorset Street, Shrewsbury.

He told Mr Hodgin's family: "It will be no comfort to you but I believe he died almost instantly."

The inquest heard that the Dorset Road gate to the towpath should have been locked by Shropshire Council because the river level was higher than 1.95 metres at the Welsh Bridge.

Tim Sneddon, operations manager for environmental maintenance at the council, said it had not been closed because they had not received any notification about the river level from the Environment Agency.

The inquest heard that because of the high river level the towpath would have been covered in water and Mr Hodgin may have mistakenly stepped into the river having not been able to see the edge.

After recording his conclusion into Mr Hodgin's death, Mr Ellery said he would be writing to Shropshire Council and the Environment Agency to ensure that they liaise over river levels to make sure the gate is closed.

The inquest heard that Mr Hodgin had been drinking at The Buttermarket nightclub with friends before becoming separated.

Mr Ellery was told that after leaving Mr Hodgin had become lost and had last been heard from when he called his mother at 5.27am.

In her statement, Mrs Firmstone said her son had told her he did not know where he was, at which point she told him she would pick him up.

The inquest also heard evidence from Mr Hodgin's friend Scott Hutchinson, who had been out with him that evening.

A statement read to the inquest said: "I telephoned him a few times and he was saying 'I am by houses'. He asked me to Facetime him so he could hear better."

In his statement Mr Hutchinson said his friend had sent him a picture to show where he was but when it came through "it was all black".

Mr Hodgin later told his friend that it was okay and that he had "sorted" a lift home.

Mr Ellery said he believed Mr Hodgin had fallen into the river shortly after the conversation with his mother.

He said: "The evidence is that at or soon after he last spoke with you (Lorraine Firmstone) he then walked down the steps, quite how far he got we do not know, but there or thereabouts he has probably stepped into the river or slipped."