Man died trying to save his pet dog from the sea

A man died as he tried to save his pet dog which had fallen over a steep cliff into the sea, an inquest has heard.

Gary Conlon, 64, was on holiday with his family in Cornwall when the accident happened at Polly Joke beach near Crantock on the morning of 9 October.

Cornwall Coroner's Court in Truro heard Mr Conlon had gone out with his dog Monty for a morning walk, while the rest of the family got ready to go to Padstow for breakfast.

Mr Conlon's wife of 43 years, Katrina, told the hearing he was very fit for his age and had a "zest for life, a wicked sense of humour and was the life and soul of the party".

The couple from Eccleshall, Staffordshire had been on holiday with their daughter, her partner and their newborn baby daughter, and were regular visitors to Cornwall.

The inquest heard from a witness, Daniel Beesley, who said he saw Mr Conlon on the coastal path waving his arms and saying his dog had gone off the cliff into the water.

In his statement Mr Beesley said he could see Monty swimming in the water and seeming to be "fine" but Mr Conlon took off his walking boots and socks as he edged along loose shale on the cliff.

Mr Beesley said: "I shouted to him two or three times that it was too dangerous and that he would slip but he ignored me."

Mr Conlon squatted down and started to climb down and had moved about 4ft (1.2m) when he slipped and fell, landing on a flat rock before hitting the water, Mr Beesley said.

He added Mr Conlon appeared panicked, waving his arms, and trying to scramble to the rocks but was hit by strong waves and swept into a cave.

Pathologist Dr Tim Bracey said Mr Conlon, who ran his own electrical business, died from cold water immersion and a chest wall injury, and he also had heart disease.

The inquest was told his family had heard emergency services and a helicopter near their holiday apartment and discovered that it was Mr Conlon who had been recovered from the sea, and efforts to save him had failed.

Monty was rescued from the sea and taken to a vet for treatment.

Devon and Cornwall Police said Mr Conlon's boots and a dog lead were found at the top of the headland path and there were no suspicious circumstances.

Officers said he had tried to slide down the cliff when he fell, and that Monty was rescued alive from the sea.

Assistant coroner for Cornwall Emma Hillson recorded a conclusion of misadventure.

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