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A mental health patient died after swimming in a freezing Dartford lake, an inquest heard.
Mark Katnoria was spotted in Cotton lake on Galleon Boulevard, in Crossways Business Park, on February 27.
A voluntary patient at Littlebrook Hospital, Mr Katnoria was taken to King's College Hospital in London after being pulled from the water.
The stockroom assistant, of Barham Road, Dartford, suffered from a hypoxic brain injury as a result of drowning.
"He was splashing, spluttering, making grunting noises, but I thought he was messing around..." - Oliver Parker-Grater
Giving evidence at the inquest into Mr Katnoria's death at Gravesend’s Old Town Hall, Oliver Parker-Grater said he had been fishing overnight and continued into the morning when at 9.45am he saw Mr Katnoria in the water.
He said: "He was splashing, spluttering, making grunting noises, but I thought he was messing around. He wasn't calling for help. I phoned Mr Jackson who owns the lake and he told me to keep an eye on him.
"He was bobbing around and then he went under water for a few seconds and came back up again. He then stopped and seemed calm but then he went under. After a few seconds he didn't come up."
Mr Parker-Grater ran along a pontoon and climbed a tree to get a better view, but could not see any sign of the man.
He then stripped off to his pants and dived into the lake, which is close to The Wharf pub.
Meanwhile, another witness had seen Mr Katnoria go under and called 999. He was stood next to a pair of shoes and a neatly-folded jacket.
A boat eventually pulled the 34-year-old from the water and attempts were made to resuscitate him.
Coroner Roger Hatch said: "We will sadly never know why he decided to go swimming in the lake.
"There is no evidence that assists us in that respect. It is somewhat an unfortunate conclusion in the circumstances, but from the evidence we've heard, I'm forced to record an open conclusion."
