Lifejacket failed to save Shropshire angler, 51, who fell into reservoir
A keen Shropshire angler drowned on a trip he won as a prize when his brand new lifejacket failed to save him as he fished at a beauty spot, an inquest heard.
Experienced angler Angus Rae, 51, toppled into 30ft of water from a boat when he suffered an epileptic fit.
Mr Rae, a father-of-two from Minsterley, near Shrewsbury, had won a prize to fish at a reservoir in South Wales – and bought the new £60 Parmaris lifejacket for his trip.
But the self-inflating lifejacket he was wearing for the first time did not turn Mr Rae onto his back as he struggled in the water.
It was the first time Mr Rae, a keen angler since he was a child, had worn the self-inflating lifejacket.
His friend Simon Ladd tried desperately to reach his companion with an oar but couldn't save him.
Mr Ladd told an inquest yesterday: "Angus was at the stern of the boat when he suddenly he fell into the water.
"He was submerged under the water before the life jacket inflated and he came to the surface."
Other fishermen nearby held him above the water by his shoulders before two reservoir rangers managed to pull him out.
But despite being given CPR from the rangers and later paramedics Mr Rae could not be revived.
The inquest heard the father-of-two had won a raffle to fish for pike at Llandegfedd reservoir near Cwmbran, South Wales.
Former tree surgeon Mr Rae had suffered two previous seizures in the months before the tragedy, the inquest at Newport was told.
His widow Alison, 51, wept as she told the inquest: "He had researched life jackets on the internet. He wasn't concerned about fishing again because he was wearing his new life jackets and he felt safe."
Coroners officer Jon Lewis told the inquest that Mr Rae had bought a Parmaris life jacket at a shop in Ludlow.
He said: "It is sustainable for use in extreme conditions but when wearing heavy clothing it will not self right."
The inquest heard Mr Rae was wearing a shell jacket and jumper and waterproof trousers.
Gwent deputy coroner Wendy James said: "Mr Rae bought the life jacket after considerable research and was wearing it for the first time.
"It gave him a sense of security because he thought it would turn him onto his back.
"He believe he had taken adequate precautions by wearing a life jacket."
She ruled Mr Rae had died from drowning after an epileptic fit.
The coroner returned a verdict of accidental death.
