A PhD student from County Durham died after landing in a drain when the fence he was climbing collapsed, an inquest hearing was told.

John Richmond, who was born in Durham, was studying for his doctorate in Singapore when he was fatally injured.

It is understood the three-metre fall on Xehnder Road in the Queenstown area was captured on CCTV on April 13, but he was not discovered until the following day.

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His body has been flown back and an investigation into his death was opened by Senior Coroner Jeremy Chipperfield at Crook Coroners’ Court on Wednesday.

A post-mortem examination conducted by Dr Nigel Cooper on May 15 at the Freeman Hospital Mortuary in Newcastle gave the cause of death as a blunt head injury.

The inquest was told John’s body was identified by his uncle, Julian Atkinson.

Emily Bourne, a coroner's officer employed by Durham County Council made an opening statement at the hearing.

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She said: “I understand the circumstances to be that Mr John William Richmond was seen on CCTV trying to climb a fence and on his second attempt to do this, the fence collapsed.

“He fell backwards onto the concrete storm ditch from a height of about three metres.

“He was motionless on CCTV. John was found the following day by paramedics and pronounced dead at the scene.”

A full inquest into the circumstances surrounding John’s death will be held in due course.