Blackpool man Connor Stewart-Woods was 'overwhelmed by tide' after falling into stormy sea while jogging

Connor Stewart-Woods, 26, was jogging on the lower part of the Prom during high tide on March 2 when he attempted to cross a sloping surface covered in green algae behind the Sandcastle Waterpark.

He slipped and was dragged out by the strong waves.

Two lifeboats, two coastguards and a helicopter were called out at 3.45pm after he was spotted hanging onto the South Pier, shouting for help.

But shortly after he was seen, he disappeared under the water and did not come up again.

Kezia Chowdhury, who was visiting Blackpool and was the first to call 999 after hearing Connor, said: "I saw someone clinging to the left hand side of the pier. I could see the waves kept on going over his head. The coastguard jumped out of his vehicle and I told him what I could see. The coastguard went out onto the steps and tried to work out how he was going to throw the float.

"The person let go of the pier and went under the sea. He didn't look like he was conscious. He just went under. I didn't see him come up again."

Rescue services stood down three hours later.

Another search carried out that night at low tide found Connor’s body 50m out underneath the South Pier.

At his inquest at Blackpool town hall on Wednesday, pathologist Dr Mark Sissons said the cause of death was drowning.

The court heard that there were warning signs on the upper part of the Promenade where Connor was found advising people against venturing down onto the steps during high tide. However, his mum, Diane Woods, said that these signs could not be seen from the lower part of the Promenade.

A police investigation was unable to determine where Connor had gone down to the steps.

CCTV footage showed him jogging southwards along the Prom shortly before the fatal accident - which occurred just one day after Storm Jorge hit Britain.

Upon reaching the sloped area behind the Sandcastle, which separates the stepped area and the hexagonal sea defences around South Beach, he appeared to hesitate before attempting to cross.

He slipped and fell, and though he was able to climb back up several times, he was eventually overwhelmed by the tide.

Coroner Alan Wilson said: "It may be that the spray of the waves had damped the surface. There was also some algae on the surface. Ultimately, Connor was swept into the water.

"This incident occurred when the tide was in. Waves can be seen rising up the section. The footage clearly shows how stormy it was on that day and it seems inevitable that a person, regardless of their swimming skills, would have struggled to get out of that water.

"Within five minutes of reaching and clinging onto the pier, he succumbed to the strength of the water and he was unable to hold on."

He added: “Just by running there on that day, (Connor) was putting himself in danger, looking at the waves and the weather conditions seen on CCTV.

“Had he got across the sloped area with no difficulties, he would have made his way across the top of the sea defences. But on this occasion he has slipped, and slipped fatally, and he has lost his life as a result.

"It is an extremely difficult set of circumstances and a warning to us all."

He said he would hand down a conclusion of an accidental death at a later date after writing a letter to Blackpool Council about warning signs in the area.

Paul Little, Coastguard station officer for Blackpool and Lytham, said: "People have to bear in mind when they are going from a flat surface to a sloped surface it can be slippery at certain times of the year."

'HE WILL BE FOREVER MISSED'

Connor Stewart-Woods was educated at Manor Beach Primary School in Cleveleys, St. Aidan's Senior School in Preesall, and Blackpool Sixth Form College. He graduated from the University of Central Lancashire with a masters degree in law.

He was enjoyed playing the guitar and the keyboard.

Mrs Woods said: “We are deeply saddened by his death but would like to offer our grateful thanks to the lady who called the emergency services, the RNLI and the police for their assistance in his recovery.

“He will be forever missed but will continue to be honoured as part of our family.”