Inquest opens into York hot-tub death (From York Press)

Inquest opens into York hot-tub death

5:42pm Wednesday 18th July 2012 in News By Jennifer Bell, Crime reporter

AN inquest has opened into the death of a 63-year-old man in an outdoor hot tub at a holiday home in York.

Paul Norbury was found unconscious in a tub at Merricote Cottages, near the Vertigrow garden centre in Malton Road, on Friday afternoon.

At an inquest at the Barbican Centre today, York coroner Donald Coverdale heard a female gardener had been working at the holiday home at about 12.30pm and saw Mr Norbury sitting in the hot tub.

In a statement, she said Mr Norbury had his back to her while she worked for about 15 minutes and she recalled him sitting in the same position.

She told police that when she returned at 2.25pm she saw Mr Norbury had slumped sideways and become submerged under the water.

The inquest heard workers at the site attempted CPR while paramedics were called, but he was pronounced dead at York hospital at 3.15pm that day. His body was later identified by his wife Christine Norbury.

A post mortem examination by a pathologist in Newcastle has given a preliminary cause of death as drowning.

The inquest has been adjourned to allow Mr Norbury’s family to make funeral arrangements as inquires continue. Police say the death is not thought to be suspicious.