MYSTERY surrounds the death of a Cheltenham man who was found in the River Severn weeks after being threatened by a drugs gang, an inquest heard.

Andrew Limbrick, 41, had made a failed suicide attempt weeks before his death, coroner Alan Crickmore was told.

But the reason he came to be found dead in the river at Epney, south of Gloucester, could not be established, the coroner ruled.

Mr Crickmore said it was possible Mr Limbrick could have fallen, taken his own life, or been pushed in and recorded an open verdict into the death.

Shire Hall was told Mr Limbrick, formerly of Alstone Lane, Cheltenham, moved into Claremont House in Gloucester after a drug overdose in June last year.

He was resident there from July 3-14 when he disappeared. He was reported missing on July 17 and his body was spotted in the Severn near the Anchor pub at Epney on July 23.

A report from Dr David Price of the Royal Well Surgery in Cheltenham said Mr Limbrick had a history of heavy drinking and drug abuse. He had also made 'multiple threats and attempts at self-harm'.

On June 18 last year Mr Limbrick took a drug overdose and said he had done it because of 'intimidating threats from people he described as a drug-dealing gang'.

Dr Price said Mr Limbrick's main concern at that time seemed to be housing – he wanted to move to new accommodation and felt if he could he would be less inclined to self-harm.

Arrangements were then made for him to move to Gloucester and he was discharged from hospital to go there on July 3.

Pathologist Dr John McCarthy said Mr Limbrick's death was consistent with drowning but because of the decomposition it could not definitely be ascertained.

Detective Sergeant Susan Feraday said her investigations had not established how Mr Limbrick came to be in the river. She said there was no evidence of third party involvement nor anything to indicate suspicious circumstances.

Recording his verdict, Mr Crickmore said: "How he came to be in the water I don't know. I cannot assume a person has killed himself because he has threatened he might do it a week or two or three before.

"It is equally possible that, unsteady on his feet, he slipped and fell. It is also possible, although there is no evidence for it, someone pushed him in the water."

Verdict: Open.