A MAN who was found dead on a West Somerset beach three days after Easter last year had been under the influence of alcohol when he died, an inquest heard.

A police investigation was sparked at the time when Simon Passmore was discovered on Minehead Beach shortly before 6.30 am on April 20, 2022.

Now, an inquest has heard evidence suggested Mr Passmore had either passed out or fallen asleep on the beach while intoxicated the evening before and drowned when the tide came in.

Somerset coroner Samantha Marsh was told it appeared Mr Passmore, aged 61, who lived in Duke Street, Taunton, had been unable to self-rescue when the tide came in overnight and he was submerged and drowned.

She said Mr Passmore’s body remained on the shoreline and he was found in the morning when the tide went out.

Mrs Marsh, sitting in The Old Municipal Buildings, Taunton, recorded the cause of Bridgwater-born Mr Passmore’s death as ‘drowning while under the influence of alcohol’.

She concluded his death was ‘accidental’.