A former Oakwood train driver ,described by friends as a “lovely man”, died from a fatal mixture of alcohol and codeine, an inquest heard today (Thursday).

Alfred Derek Brown, aged 69, became depressed following the death of his wife in 2005.

Mr Brown of Callans Drive, Pembroke, had had counselling and had told friends that he didn't feel he had done enough for her. Three months before his death he received treatment for depression.

On December 8th 2009 Mr Brown was seen sitting on a bench near Pembroke Castle, by Jean Gibbons, who was walking her dog.

She described how she had seen a man holding something as she walked past. Around an hour later she saw that the man was still on the bench but slumped over.

She flagged down a passing Bobby Van and told the driver, Carwyn Phillips, what she had seen.

Mr Phillips found Mr Brown on the bench. Nearby there was a bottle of tonic water with saliva and crushed pills around the neck and a pharmacy carrier bag.

He dialled 999, cleared Mr Brown's mouth and administered CPR.

Paramedics arrived and continued CPR. They took Mr Brown to Withybush Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A post mortem revealed a very high level of codeine and a moderate concentration of alcohol.

An amount of dihydrocodeine, above the level associated with therapeutic use but below fatal levels, was also detected.

A pathologist said that that the level of codeine was within the range associated with fatality, especially in the presence of alcohol.

She concluded that the combination of drugs and alcohol were the cause of death.

HM Coroner for Pembrokeshire, Mark Layton, returned a narrative verdict, saying that Mr Brown died from self-administered drug poisoning.