THE inquest into the death of a 57-year-old city carpenter who had been missing for almost two weeks has been opened and adjourned.
The body of Denville Smith, of Blenheim Road, St John's, who was also known as "Ernie", was found in the River Severn at Ripple, near Upton-upon-Severn, on Sunday, October 17.
He was last seen cycling across the New Road bridge on his way to work in Trow Way, Diglis, Worcester, at about 7.45am on Wednesday, October 6.
At the opening of yesterday's inquest in Stourport-on-Severn, county coroner, Victor Round, said: "The cause of death is consistent with drowning but we are doing further tests."
He added that Mr Smith, who was epileptic, was a single man with no children and he had never gone missing before.
Mr Round adjourned the inquest to a date to be fixed.
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