A verdict of accidental death has been recorded on a Ballasalla man who died after falling into Castletown harbour.

The body of John Christopher Qualtrough, commonly known as "Spock", was found in the Outer Harbour, at the back of the Nautical Museum, at 9am on Saturday, the 27th of January.

He'd been drinking in the Ship Inn the night before and left to get the last bus back to Ballasalla.

Friends of Mr Qualtrough said he always sat on the chains next to the harbour and rolled a cigarette while he waited for the bus, something they'd often warned him against doing.

Tobacco found near the bus stop and cigarette papers found in Mr Qualtrough's hand suggest he'd been doing just that when he fell.

A doctor who examined Mr Qualtrough's body said he had a blood/alcohol level of 276 milligrammes, an amount usually associated with vomiting, stupor and possible coma.

In recording his verdict, Coroner Michael Moyle said Mr Qualtrough's death was an unfortunate accident and hoped people realised the dangers of such relatively harmless activities.