A DAD-to-be who was found dead in the water of a dockland may have suffered a seizure, an inquest has heard.
Paul Barron-Snooks, 29, was tragically found floating face-down in the cold water minutes after chatting to his mum on the phone.
Known to his friends as PJ, the 29-year-old had called his mum Jodie before he was found unresponsive, and told her he had taken cocaine.
He had previously suffered from “psychological symptoms and seizure episodes which were possibly drug related,” an inquest at Pontypridd Coroner’s Court heard.
PJ was found unresponsive in the water off Ffordd y Mileniwm at Barry Waterfront, Wales, at 17.55pm on April 11 last year.
The inquest returned an open verdict, unable to determine his ultimate cause of death.
Coroner David Regan said PJ had called his mum around 5pm on the day of his tragic death.
“His speech was slurred and he stated that he had taken cocaine and was walking to the waterfront, in a manner which did not cause her concern for his safety,” Mr Regan said.
Passersby reportedly saw PJ in the water after this call, but did not seem to think he was in trouble.
But by 17.55pm he was seen “floating face down and unresponsive”.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, but paramedics sadly could not revive PJ on the bank.
The coroner added: “Post mortem examination confirmed that he had consumed cocaine but was unable to determine whether his death was caused by cocaine use, seizure or immersion in water.
“It is not known what caused Mr Barron-Snooks to come to be in the water.”
Mr Regan therefore returned an open verdict, as he was unable to confirm the cause of death.
When he died, his pregnant girlfriend Rebecca Mears released a moving tribute to her compassionate partner.
“Pjay was my whole world and more, he was the biggest kid I had ever known,” she said.
“Pjay always was so loving, caring and compassionate especially to those he loved the most, he would never fail to tell me he loved me or how much he cared for me he always made sure I knew as I did with him also.
“He loved playing his computer, I still remember how excited he got when a new game come out and he’d stay up watching the time go past waiting until he can play it, getting so excited like a kid at Christmas.
“I miss you so much my handsome, life isn’t the same without you, but I will do you proud I promise you.
“Thank you for showing us so many new adventures and creating so many memories with us in such a short space of time being together you truly were one in a million.”
