A MAN drowned in a swimming pool after suffering a heart attack on the first day of a holiday in Malta, an inquest heard.

Mark Morrison’s body was pulled from the water after approximately 20 minutes by a teenager, coroner Emma Jones told the inquest.

The 62-year-old from Lewes had been relaxing alone on a lilo after other holidaymakers had left the water.

He had decided to go for a swim at 10.45pm after a poolside barbecue party on June 24 last year and was left alone for up to 20 minutes.

The inquest heard how Mr Morrison’s friends found two teenagers desperately performing CPR on him after one had dragged him unconscious from the water.

But they failed to resuscitate him and found no pulse.

Paramedics tried to revive Mr Morrison using CPR and a defibrillator for a further 20 minutes. But he was pronounced dead at around 11.30pm.

Mr Morrison had otherwise been in good health, but had previously complained of chest pains, the court heard.

Ms Jones said a number of documents due from Malta had not arrived in time for the hearing in Reading on Thursday.

Maltese authorities will hold their own inquest into the death.

Ms Jones said: “The report I have received is that [Mr Morrison] passed away on June 24 at 11.30pm, and the place of death was the Villagg Tal Fanal in Gozo, Malta.

“In the two years prior he had two hernia operations which were followed by a number of complications.

“The last time his daughter was with him was a week prior to his death and he seemed happy and well.

“She spoke to him and he was very excited and said he was in the best health he was in for a long time.

“He drove to his friends’ house and appeared to be well and happy.

“He joined friends for a barbecue party held by the pool and at around quarter to eleven decided to go for a swim.

“Friends were with him at the time but he went into the pool on his own and went on his lilo and they reported he seemed fine.

“However, within a few minutes the other people had then got out, leaving him on his own.

“There is a 10-20 minute gap between them leaving the pool and a teenager seeing the body, retrieving the body and attempting CPR.

“He had no signs of life when pulled from the water. Everything was done that could have been. CPR was conducted for 20 minutes but he was pronounced deceased at the scene.”

A post mortem examination conducted at Gozo General Hospital found the cause of death was drowning due to myocardial hypoxia.

Ms Jones told the inquest Mr Morrison had an otherwise “unremarkable” medical history.

Myocardial hypoxia, also known as ischemia, occurs when blood flow to the heart is reduced, preventing it from receiving enough oxygen.

This reduced blood flow is usually the result of a partial or complete blockage of the heart’s arteries.

Ms Jones recorded a conclusion of accidental death by drowning.