In a heart-wrenching revelation, a man met a tragic end as he plummeted 50ft into the River Croal in Bolton town centre, attempting to find an exit from a car park after a night out. The inquest, held at Bolton Coroner’s Court, detailed the unfortunate demise of 33-year-old Craig Hodkinson in the early hours of September 13 last year. His lifeless body was discovered four days later.

The inquest disclosed that Craig became trapped in a secure car park, located at the rear of a block of flats, after visiting a friend following a night of heavy drinking. Attempting to leave the building around 4 am, he mistakenly entered the car park, realising he was stuck. Instead of using a buzzer for assistance, he decided to climb a fence at the rear of the car park in a desperate attempt to find an escape route. Tragically, as he walked along a narrow ledge overlooking the river, he fell, suffering “unsurvivable injuries.”

CCTV footage from the night revealed Craig’s movements. After spending hours at various pubs in Bolton, he left the Swan and Barristers pub around 1 am with an acquaintance, Elliott Riley, and headed to Mr. Riley’s flat at Stone Cross House. Craig left the flat at 4 am, declining Mr. Riley’s offer to call a taxi, insisting on walking home. The footage showed Craig entering a lift within the building, but when the door failed to close, he exited and mistakenly walked into the car park at the back of the building.

Unable to leave through the vehicular exit, Craig roamed the car park, seemingly searching for an alternative way out. Detective Inspector Lee Gridley of Greater Manchester Police described the CCTV footage, noting Craig’s attempts to find an exit. The footage showed Craig climbing over a fence at the rear of the car park, attempting to walk along a narrow ledge. Moments later, he disappeared from view, falling into the River Croal.

Craig’s body was reported missing later that day when his father discovered he wasn’t at his flat. After a police search, his body was recovered from the river on September 17. A post-mortem examination revealed “polytrauma,” with serious injuries to Craig’s leg and head, indicating he died upon impact. Toxicology tests showed he was over two-and-a-half times the legal drink-drive limit at the time, impacting his judgement and coordination.

Coroner Stephen Teasdale recorded the conclusion that Craig’s death was “accidental,” emphasising the influence of alcohol on his decision-making and stability. Despite the availability of a buzzer for help, Craig tragically didn’t utilise it. His family, devastated by the loss, remembered him as a “brilliant” and “beautiful” individual, expressing their deep sorrow at his untimely departure.