Erewash Canal death inquest

THE inquest into the death of Sam McKane who died after slipping into the Erewash Canal in December was opened, then adjourned.

He died after falling through the ice on the frozen waterway on the evening of 30th December, Alan Tilbury tells us.

Drinking with friends

At the hearing at Derby and South Derbyshire Coroner's Court, PC Andrew Porton, stated  that Sam McKane had been out drinking with friends from work on the evening, returning at 1am after which he took his dog for a walk along the towpath.

After members of his family realised he was missing the following morning they went out to look for him, and discovered his body in the canal, with his dog sitting waiting for him.

A liveaboard boater told the court that he heard a bang at around 1.30am, that sounded as though something had broken the ice on the waterway.