A ROWING coach who died after falling into the River Wear in Durham City on Saturday (February 28) may have suffered from heart disease, a coroner has heard.

Opening an inquest into his death at Crook Coroner’s Court today (March 4), County Durham Coroner, Andrew Tweddle, heard how a provisional post mortem into the death of experienced oarsman William Grant, 67, showed he died from being immersed in water, with a contributory factor being hypertensive heart disease.

It is believed the retired jeweller, known as Bill, had been coaching a rowing team when he suffered a medical episode and fell into the water near Kingsgate Bridge at around 8.25am on Saturday (February 28).

Shocked crew members from the Durham Amateur Rowing Club then pulled to the side of the river and helped pull him out.

The father-of-three was taken to hospital by helicopter in a serious condition, but died shortly after arrival.

Coroner’s officer, Jaqueline Sirrell, confirmed Mr Grant, from Cleadon, Sunderland, had been cycling along the riverbank before he fell into the water. His body was identified by his wife, Jenny.

Mr Grant, an active member of Cleadon All Saints Church, leaves his wife, Jenny, son Richard, 22, and two daughters: Catherine, 20, and Emma 19.

Mr Tweddle adjourned the case until April 13.