A YOUNG fisherman fell from the dockside and drowned after a night out drinking, his family has been told.

At an inquest into his death today, family and friends of Josh Winsper, 24, from Penryn in Cornwall, heard that on April 1 the father-of-one had been out drinking in Milford Haven with crew mates from the fishing vessel Golden Fleece II.

He was reported missing by his crew on April 2, prompting a huge search of the Milford Haven waterway.

A pair of grey trainers were recovered from the water later that day, but his body was not found by police divers until the following afternoon.

Coroner's officer Gareth Warlow said the night before he was reported missing, Mr Winsper and his colleagues had visited several local bars, before ending up in the Astoria nightclub, in Charles Street, with one of his crew mates.

Mr Winsper was reported as having consumed a large amount of alcohol, and a toxicology report later found him to be two-and-a-half times over the legal driving limit.

There were also clear signs of cannabis use, and previous cocaine use, which may have increased the toxic effect of the alcohol in his system.

Mr Winsper is believed to have left the nightclub at around 3.30am, and is next spotted on CCTV at around 5am, appearing to be on his way back to the boat.

The camera loses sight of Mr Winsper as he walks behind a lorry down on the dockside, and does not pick him up again.

Mr Warlow said he believed Mr Winsper had slipped and fallen into the water, which would have been cold, at around eight degrees.

Paige Winsper, Mr Winsper's sister, asked if there was any evidence of what happened to her brother between 3.30am and 5am.

Scratches and bruises on her brother's arms, legs and face made her question whether he had been in a fight in the intervening time, she said.

Coroner Mark Layton said there was no evidence of Mr Winsper having been in a fight, and that his injuries were superficial, and could have been caused by his work on the boat, or during his fall into the water.

"The evidence does not suggest anything happened that would raise doubts about his welfare," said Mr Layton.

He said there were no signs of any problems, and Mr Winsper appeared to have been "having a good night".

Mr Layton concluded that Mr Winsper drowned as a result of an accident, in which he fell into the water while trying to return to his boat.

Speaking after the inquest, Mr Winsper's mother said she still had questions about how her son had ended up in the water.

Added Paige: "I know the questions that we need to be answered can't be answered."

The family has also raised concerns about safety at the dockside, and whether improvements - such as more railings and ladders - could help prevent accidents in future.

A service to remember Josh Winsper, and allow his family to meet the local people involved in the search for his body, will take place at the Fisherman's Tribute on the Rath, Milford Haven, tomorrow (Friday) at 11am.

All members of the public are invited to pay their respects.