Man, 33, found four days after falling 50ft to his death while attempting to leave car park

Man, 33, found four days after falling 50ft to his death while attempting to leave car park

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GB News
George Bunn

By George Bunn


Published: 16/01/2024

- 22:17

An inquest has heard Craig Hodkinson plunged into the River Croal, in Bolton

A man has died after plunging 50ft to his death while drunkenly trying to find his way out of a car park.

Craig Hodkinson was found dead on September 13 last year, four days after he fell into the River Croal in Bolton, Greater Manchester.


The 33-year-old had been on a pub crawl around the town before bumping into a friend and deciding to go back to his home.

However, he mistakenly got trapped inside a secure car park when he left at 4am having insisted on walking home.

\u200bCraig Hodkinson

Craig Hodkinson died last year

Greater Manchester Police

CCTV footage showed Hodkinson searching for a way out and peering over a fence, which he then scaled at the back of the car park.

However, as he walked along a narrow ledge trying to leave the car park, he slipped and fell 50ft to his death into the water beneath.

Bolton Coroner's Court heard Mr Hodkinson sustained "unsurvivable injuries".

His body was pulled from the river days later after his father, Robert, reported him missing when he went to visit him at his flat and discovered he wasn't here.

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Bolton Coroner's Court

An inquest was held into his death at Bolton Coroner's Court

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Describing the CCTV footage, Detective Inspector Lee Gridley, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "He looks like he is looking for a way out of the car park.

"He can be seen looking over the fence in several parts."

Pathologist Dr Ravindra Sawant gave Mr Hodkinson's cause of death as polytrauma.

Toxicology tests revealed Hodkinson was more than two-and-a-half times over the legal drink drive limit at the time of his death, which Dr Sawant said would have "clouded his judgement and coordination".

Coroner Stephen Teasdale recorded a conclusion of accidental death.

He ruled that the alcohol he had consumed had likely had an impact on his decision making and made Mr Hodkinson "unsteady on his feet".

Following Hodkinson's death, his sister Lisa-Marie paid tribute to her brother.

She said: "My beautiful baby brother is now at peace. He was a son, a brother and an uncle. He had many friends from Manchester and Bolton and was brilliant. He was never in trouble or caused any trouble.

"All his friends who knew him loved him just as much as his family. He has gone too soon however he is at peace now and flying high looking out for all his family.

"He is with his family members in heaven. We will always love you r'kid. You will always be the golden child of the Hodkinson family."

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