Home   Thanet   News   Article

Inquest hears man, 20, drowned in Ramsgate harbour after night out at Wetherspoon

A young man who drowned in a harbour had been "in good spirits" while out drinking with his brother the night before his body was found.

Martin Pacan was found dead on the morning of September 10 last year after a concerned Ramsgate resident called police to say there was someone floating in the water.

Martin Pacan was just 20 when he drowned
Martin Pacan was just 20 when he drowned

An inquest at Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone heard the 20-year-old was last seen by his brother Roman the night before.

In a statement read by coroner Joanne Andrews, Roman Pacan said his brother was scared of water so he didn't know what could have happened.

"I don't know anyone who would wish him harm," he added.

It was also heard Mr Pacan, who had been living on the streets at the time, had been in a good mood and singing while drinking with his brother on the evening of September 9.

A toxicology report found he had three times the legal drink drive limit in his system as well as cannabis, although it couldn't be said how much or when he had smoked the drug.

Police at the scene after Mr Pacan's body was recovered from the harbour
Police at the scene after Mr Pacan's body was recovered from the harbour

Ms Andrews said CCTV showed him coming from the Wetherspoon area and walking to the Watershed building on quay "with purpose".

"It shows him in the area alone and when he emerges from the Watershed area he is seen staggering around," she said.

"A 10.45pm a car's headlights light up where he is, and he is seen on CCTV walking towards Wetherspoon and can be seen to veer towards the harbour slipway, but then it becomes too dark to see any further movement."

During proceedings it emerged Mr Pacan, who was born in the Czech Republic, was known to authorities and had an issue with substance misuse, mainly alcohol and the synthetic drug spice.

Mr Pacan received support from organisation Liberty for All CIC, where he stayed on and off. But he sometimes "gravitated" back to the streets and, after trying to get help with his cannabis and spice problem for 18 months, would then not engage with drug or alcohol services.

Police were called to the scene in Harbour Parade, Ramsgate
Police were called to the scene in Harbour Parade, Ramsgate

Ms Andrews said the cause of death was submersion under water in the outer harbour and there were no signs of trauma.

"Mr Pacan was last seen the night before when drinking with his brother and he was in good spirits," she said.

"He was going to find somewhere to sleep.

"He had a fear of water and his brother couldn't understand how he came to be in the water.

"He was seen about 10.45pm but there is no evidence [to say] how he fell in the water, whether he inadvertently slipped on the slipway, which I can't confirm or deny.

"In this case I'm satisfied he did not intend to take his life and there was no third-party involvement."

She gave a ruling of misadventure.

Mayor of Ramsgate Cllr Raushan Ara arranged a prayer vigil after Mr Pacan's death, which was attended by his family and friends.

For more information on how we can report on inquests, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Thanet

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More