A Brighton man died accidentally before his body was found floating in a river, an inquest heard.

Zamion Jon Bowyer, of no fixed address, was spotted floating in a river by a tourist on a river cruise boat in Bath.

The 37-year-old had been missing for five days.

Consultant pathologist at the Royal United Hospital Doctor Pinias Mukonoweshuro said there was no evidence of violence or injury, and that in his opinion Mr Bowyer had died of drowning.

A low level of alcohol and drugs found in his body may have contributed to Mr Bowyer’s ability to get out of the water, but was not the cause of death, according to the doctor.

Mr Bowyer was wearing very heavy clothes and shoes, and this may also have inhibited his ability to get out of the water, said Dr Mukonoweshuro.

In a written statement Mr Bowyer's partner Sadie Pousson described how he had gone to buy tobacco at a 24-hour shop, after consuming some alcohol and drugs.

She said: “I begged him not to go as it was raining heavily."

When he failed to return Ms Pousson reported him missing the next day.

Ms Pousson told the inquest her boyfriend was a competent swimmer and swam in the river regularly.

“He was in and out of that river all the time, he swam like an otter,” she said.

“That is why I find it unbelievable that he died in this way.”

The victim’s sister Brigid Moore said the family had come to try to find answers about why her brother had died.

“We came here looking for answers but I do not think we will ever know what really happened to him,” she said.

Avon senior coroner Maria Voisin said: “While there is no evidence how Mr Bowyer came to be in the river, the only appropriate conclusion is that he died of accidental death.”

After the inquest Mr Bowyer’s brother Reuben Hartnell said: “There have been lots of high profile cases about young people who have died in the river, but I suppose it is not the same if you are a homeless person.”