Man drowned on team building trip

A man on a team building exercise in the Brecon Beacons drowned in a river while trying to find his way to his tent, an inquest has heard.

Carl Wright, 31, from Compton near Wolverhampton, was found dead on 19 September 2006.

Powys coroner Peter Maddox said Mr Wright had been drinking, but a lack of familiarity with his surroundings also contributed to the tragedy.

Mr Maddox recorded a verdict of accidental death.

The inquest in Welshpool, Powys, heard that Mr Wright's wife Amanda was seven weeks pregnant at the time of her husband's death. She subsequently gave birth to a boy.

Mr Maddox said: "In all the circumstances, on balance Mr Wright was probably unable to find his tent in the early hours of 19 September when he decided to go to bed.

'Rock platform'

"The post mortem findings recorded some injuries consistent with a fall onto the rock platform where his body was found, so on balance he probably fell from the river bank onto the rock platform whilst looking for his tent.

"He became partially immersed in water (face down) and drowned.

"More likely than not that the darkness, the lack of a torch, Mr Wright's lack of familiarity with his surroundings and the consumption of alcohol contributed to the fall."

Mr Wright was found dead close to where he and 16 colleagues were camping at Birch Hall Bothy, near Neuadd reservoir.

The area near Brecon is owned by Welsh Water and leased to the Forestry Commission.

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