A SEA captain who made two desperate telephone pleas for help to his home in the North-East was later found floating face down in a Spanish harbour.

Post-mortem examinations failed to find any evidence of a struggle or injuries on Peter Crossley's body, other than those consistent with drowning.

But an open verdict was yesterday recorded by Teesside Coroner Michael Sheffield, following an inquest into the death of the 45-year-old from Essex Close, Redcar, east Cleveland.

On the night he died, in March this year, Mr Crossley first telephoned his uncle, Robin Petch, at his home in Dormanstown, from Cartagena in Spain, then his fiancee, Hazel Thompson

Mr Crossley got some locals he was drinking with in the Mediterranean city's Patrick's Bar, to sing happy birthday to his uncle, then told Mr Petch: "I have a problem. I can't solve it - you can."

Mr Petch told the inquest in Middlesbrough: "He wanted me to go out straight away.

"He sounded a bit upset about something, a bit worried, but would not discuss it on the phone. It was obviously causing him concern.

"He had had a drink, but he was coherent and compus mentis.

"He was celebrating my birthday. He was definitely upset about something. The impression I got was it was a personal nature."

Miss Thompson said: "I am aware he had had a drink, but I found he was still able to converse with me. He said he was concerned about a Spanish guy who wanted to fight with him. He wanted me to go out there and help him."

Hilmar Hans Reissner, the yacht's chief engineer, told the inquest he found Mr Crossley's jacket, cigarettes, lighter and mobile telephone in the saloon of the yacht - a veteran of the 1940 Dunkirk Evacuation - but no sign of Mr Crossley.

Cross-examined by Mr Sheffield, Mr Reissner indicated the ship's railings were barely waist height, but he said: "It's easy to fall over it, but not for a seaman.

"It does not make any sense. Peter did not do things like that."

Vincente Medrano, a barman at Patrick's Bar, said in written evidence that Mr Crossley had been so drunk the night he died, that he had driven the sailor back to the yacht, Llanthony, and seen him safely on board.