AN ANGLER who had a history of epilepsy was found dead in a pool, an inquest heard.

Andrew Kelsall, aged 45, of Windsmoor Street, Stoke, had gone to Dilhorne Fisheries early on the morning of June 27. He usually went fishing with a friend but that morning he went alone.

North Staffordshire Coroners' Court heard yesterday that since Mr Kelsall was made redundant from H & R Johnson in 2002 he had suffered a number of epileptic fits and had become a house-husband.

Mr Kelsall first developed epilepsy as a child and took medication to control the condition. His last fit before his death was in January, when he broke his nose falling on the pavement.

The inquest was told that Mr Kelsall's wife Jacqueline phoned him at 9am on June 27 but there was no answer. She went out with their children and when she returned at midday, the police were waiting.

In a statement, fellow angler Darren Edwards, a member of Fenton and District Angling Society, said: "I arrived at the pools at 7am and walked with Mr Kelsall to the furthest pool from the main road.

"I went to a bay about 100 yards further along from him.

"Later, two lads set up between us. They were approached by another angler who asked to borrow their net because he'd seen something floating in the water.

"When I got to the peg where Mr Kelsall was, there was nothing out of the ordinary. I looked out to the pool and saw the person floating face down."

The court heard Mr Kelsall did not have any alcohol in his blood at the time of death.

Sergeant Darren Johnson said: "It was clear he was setting up. The fishing line was in the water, but the chair was still unfolded and there was still food in the bag."

Recording a narrative verdict, Anthony Curzon, deputy coroner for North Staffordshire, said: "This is a very regrettable but straightforward matter.

"The question has arisen whether this man had suffered an epileptic fit. The post mortem examination showed he had no external injuries and there was no evidence he had bitten his tongue. But as is so often the case with fits, there is no way of telling.

"The cause of death was drowning. This was an accidental death."