An ex BBC editor tragically died after falling into a river while relieving himself, an inquest has heard. Aled Glynne Davies, 65, was reported missing by his family after he disappeared following a meal with his wife Afryl on New Year’s Eve. The couple had been out for dinner, and headed home together when Aled decided to go out for a walk just before midnight, the inquest in Pontypridd heard on Monday.
The father-of-two was discovered following a massive search and rescue operation along the River Taff in Cardiff which involved more than 400 people, and coroner Kate Robertson concluded he fell into the river while urinating as the zip on his trousers was open. The inquest heard Aled, who was an editor of BBC Radio Cymru, was alive when he entered the water and died from “dry drowning”, which causes a fatal cardiac arrest. Police found his body on January 4 near Cardiff Sailing Club.
around two miles away from his home in the Pontcanna area of the city. His widow stated that he was tired and ill on occasion after taking medication for his health conditions, including sarcoidosis and osteoporosis, but he didn’t feel depressed. His GP Dr Sherif Khalifa said there was “no suggestion” Aled had depression when he died, and told the inquest: “Some drugs made him feel weak or sick.
But he was still looking forward to working on his Sunday morning show, going to the football and seeing the children.” The inquest heard that while it was unusual for her husband to go out so late at night, he had been positive during their dinner, and was looking forward to their son’s upcoming wedding. “He had taken his house keys.
That proved to me that he intended to come home that night. He was afraid of water and felt the cold terribly,” Afryl said, as she stated she believed her husband had slipped into the river, as he would not have gone in on purpose. Dr Meleri Morgan, a pathologist at the University Hospital of Wales, also told the inquest Aled was alive when he entered the water, and didn’t have enough alcohol in his system to “have had an effect on how he thought and behaved”.
Confirming his death, Aled’s son Gruffudd Glyn thanked people for their efforts in trying to locate his father. “We are heartbroken to announce that Dad was discovered in the river this morning. Thank you so much for all your efforts.
Now it's time for us all to relax. Let us all celebrate Dad's life,” he said in a statement at the time. The inquest heard that Aled’s family were unhappy with the police response after he went missing, and the case had been referred to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC).
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