Dad-of-3 tragically drowns in hot tub on weekend break to seaside with family

01 March 2023 , 16:38

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Ian Foden was found dead in a hot tub during a family holiday (Image: WALES NEWS SERVICE)

A holidaymaker drowned in a hot tub while on a weekend break with his family, an inquest heard.

Father-of-three Ian Foden, 56, was found dead face down in the waters of the hot tub at a seaside resort.

Mr Foden had travelled from his Liverpool home to the Welsh seaside town of Prestatyn for a break when he tragically died last September.

During the inquest, assistant coroner for North Wales Kate Sutherland said Mr Foden had enjoyed a day at the beach and a trip to the pub before getting in the hot tub with his wife Donna on September 22.

After about 20 minutes of relaxing together, Mrs Foden got out at about 5pm, reports North Wales Live.

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But when she asked her husband to get out as well, he said "I can't" and stayed in the water.

Mr Foden pictured with his wife Donna (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

Mr Foden had enjoyed a day at the beach and a trip to the pub before getting in the hot tub (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

She set off a short while later to get the family some food from a nearby fish and chip shop as Karen Burns, Mrs Foden's sister, stayed behind and periodically kept an eye on Ian who was still in the hot tub alone at about 5.10pm.

It was said that roughly 20 minutes later, Mr Foden was found face-down in the tub and unresponsive.

Coroner Katie Sutherland heard a neighbour helped to pull Mr Foden from the hot tub, but sadly he was already dead and could not be saved with CPR.

The hearing, in Ruthin, Denbighshire, Wales, was told Mr Foden was pronounced dead by medics at around 6.45pm.

Mr Foden tragically passed away last September (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

A post-mortem examination resulted in a provisional cause of death being given as drowning with "froth" found in his lungs.

Mr Foden's wife Donna told the hearing her husband's death "has left a huge hole in the lives of everyone who loved him".

Her husband, an avid Liverpool supporter, had trained as an engineer and had a love of DIY.

Ms Sutherland said the medical cause of death was drowning due to alcohol intoxication and ruled it was a "terribly tragic accident".

Andrew Nuttall