A North Yorkshire man who drowned while on holiday in New Zealand was believed to have been swept into the sea after burning his legs in hot water pools, an inquest at Pickering was told.

North Yorkshire East Coroner Michael Oakley recorded a verdict of accidental death on Edward Peter Green, a 60-year-old pharmacist, of Russett Road, Malton, who died in December 2004 at a popular holiday spot known as Hot Water Beach on the Caramindle Peninsula in New Zealand.

Mr Oakley said a coroner at a hearing in New Zealand had ruled that Mr Green had drowned and said his death had "shown the fool-hardiness of bathing alone".

Mr Oakley said evidence showed that Mr Green had a heart condition which had probably been more serious than he realised. At the New Zealand hearing the inquest had been told that near the water hot water pools there was a dangerous area of sea where there had been previous drownings.

Mr Green had been reported missing and was found a few hours later, drowned, on the rocks.

Mr Oakley said there was evidence that the most likely cause of the tragedy had been that Mr Green had suffered burns to his legs while in the pools and then gone into the cool water of the sea.

Medical evidence had shown that a heart complaint had contributed to Mr Green's death.

Mr Oakley said that the adjourned hearing had been in Britain because the New Zealand inquest had not made a verdict on Mr Green's death.