A MAN who drowned after tumbling into a Spanish marina is believed to hit his head on the anchor of his boat as he fell, an inquest was told.

The hearing heard that Alan Francis Taylor, 61, had been boarding his yacht, moored at Fuengirola, on the Costa del Sol when he slipped, plunging into the dark winter waters.

A post mortem examination revealed a blood alcohol level approximately four times the UK drink driving limit.

His wife ran down the jetty screaming for help but it took fellow yachtsmen five minutes to drag him from the water, by which time he was dead, the inquest was told.

Pauline Taylor, 49, told the inquest she had flown out to join her husband, who was from Windsor Road, Great Harwood, on holiday on their boat, Ricon, in January 2004.

He had met her at the airport and they had taken the train back to Fuengirola where they went for a drink in the 'local' bar.

Mrs Taylor said her husband, a retired electrical contractor, had one drink and then ordered another but did not finish it. She said he did not seem the worse for drink when they left the bar.

Mrs Taylor said they reached their boat by walking down a dimly lit jetty. Her husband walked up the metal gangway first but as he did he appeared to slip. She said he clung onto the walkway and she said she would go and get help.

"I ran down the jetty shouting for help," said Mrs Taylor. "As I ran off I heard a splash and I knew he had fallen into the water."

Other boat owners where quickly on the scene and one of them, Peter Charnley, told how he and others struggled to get him out of the water.

"I wish we had been able to get him out quicker," said Mr Charnley. "It took three of us to lift him onto the boat. I was pretty sure he was dead but I didn't want to say that."

Mr Charnley administered mouth-to-mouth but paramedics declared Mr Taylor dead shortly after they arrived.

Mr Charnley said the gang plank was very steep on the night because the tide was high. He said it was also rigged in such a way that it could move in two directions, which would have made it liable to twist with the movement of the water.

Coroner Michael Singleton said an investigation in Spain had revealed that Mr Taylor had sustained a head injury at the time of his death.

Mrs Taylor said she had not known of the injury until her husband's body was returned to the UK but said she believed he may have struck his head on the boat anchor.

He said he was satisfied Mr Taylor had slipped as he boarded his boat and struck his head, possibly on the anchor, before falling into the water. The cause of death was given as drowning and Mr Singleton recorded a verdict of accidental death.