Reveller killed by breaking neck in ice tumble

Patrick Mapes, 52, had drunk five cans of beer and at least six pints in Beverley town centre with his friend and lodger Paul Holmes before falling face down in the street.

The pair split up after Mr Mapes was refused entry to the Durham Ox pub because of blood on his face suffered in the fall in Norwood and was helped home by two other men, Mark Ashley and Brian Wilson, who saw he was unsteady on his feet.

He slept in an armchair and complained of stiffness in his arms and legs the next morning but declined an offer from his mother Mary Mapes to call a doctor.

Mr Mapes was found unconscious later on Christmas Day last year and in spite of efforts to revive him was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

The pair had been denied entry from one pub earlier in the evening because they were "a bit tipsy", and Mr Mapes had also fallen over backwards in another bar, but was helped up and carried on drinking.

An inquest into his death at Hull Coroner's Court yesterday heard Mr Mapes was being treated for stress and anxiety after becoming depressed at his failure to find a job during a long period of unemployment, but he acted as an informal carer for his elderly mother, who also shared the house in Wellington Road, Beverley.

He was also said to be missing his ex-wife Mandy, following their divorce in 1993 after five years of marriage.

Mr Mapes' younger brother Richard Mapes described him as a "kind and generous brother" who had no enemies.

Police investigated the death because of the unusual nature of the injury but found nothing suspicious and passed the file to the coroner.

Det Sgt John Meagher said: "We checked every single pub we believe he had been in to see if there was any indication of violence and checked all the police logs. There were none.

"We haven't been able to prove any violence against Patrick by anyone on that night."

Hull and East Riding Coroner Geoffrey Saul recorded a verdict of accidental death and said: "There are a number of

discrepancies in the exact sequence of events but it's clear when I look at the whole picture I have to say I'm satisfied, on the balance of probability, those injuries were probably caused by an accidental fall."