THE death of a man found lying in the River Itchen remains a mystery after a Southampton coroner recorded an open verdict.

Allen Bowles, 52, was found in mudflats near Hazel Road in Woolston, and died from a severe head injury and drowning, the inquest heard.

Deputy coroner Gordon Denson told the inquest Mr Bowles had a history of suicide attempts but the last time he took an overdose he told paramedics that he had changed his mind and didn’t want to die.

A post-mortem showed that his injuries would match those of a person who had fallen from the height of the Itchen Bridge, which is close to where his body was found.

But Mr Denson said with the lack of evidence that Mr Bowles wanted to take his own life and no witnesses he could not rule the death as a suicide.