HOW a vulnerable man met his death in the Bridgwater to Taunton Canal will never be ascertained, a coroner has concluded.

The body of homeless Gary Neal, aged 48, was discovered in the water by a man cycling to work on the morning of December 29 last year.

It is possible he was suffering from hypothermia and had become disorientated and removed most of his clothes - a common reaction to the condition - apart from some jogging bottoms and hospital issue pyjama bottoms.

Mr Neal, who had been an alcoholic for more than 20 years and drank up to 15 cans of strong cider every day and also had a history of drug addiction, had been seen at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, a number of times in the days leading up to his death.

He had been suffering from a suspected fractured rib, alcohol withdrawal symptoms and drunkenness after being seen acting bizarrely and crawling along the ground in Bridgwater.

On one occasion following treatment he was re-admitted after being spotted walking along Wellington Road, Taunton, with a blanket and in bare feet, although he later discharged himself.

Two days before his death he was arrested for stealing four cans of beer from Morrisons, in Taunton, and was released from custody after six hours after being charged.

The inquest in Taunton heard that a mental health worker and a health care professional disagreed as to whether a mental health assessment should be carried out in custody.

A serious incident report by Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said that although the organisation had little contact with Mr Neal, there should be more liaison between the relevant bodies.

Deputy coroner Tim Hayden said there were no alcohol or illegal drugs in Mr Neal's system after his body was found in the canal off Charlton Road, Creech Heathfield.

Mr Hayden said post mortem tests showed the cause of death was immersion in water and recorded an open conclusion.

He added: "It would be guesswork to say how he found his way into the canal.

"There was nothing suspicious, but there was simply no-one present and there's no evidence as to the precise reasons as to why Mr Neal was in the canal."