Craig Alan Cowen, aged 51, drowned after falling into water at Dover wharf while acutely intoxicated. He had consumed alcohol to excess and cannabis before attempting to leave a vessel late at night. He fell into the water between vessels and the wharf, suffered minor head injuries from striking timber structures, but was unable to self-rescue due to severe alcohol intoxication (blood alcohol 0.260-0.340 g/100ml) combined with cannabis effects. He was found in the water approximately one hour later and could not be revived despite CPR. The coroner noted this represents a preventable scenario involving excessive alcohol consumption around water, which severely impairs judgment, coordination, and ability to recover from falls. No medical errors or clinical care failures were identified; this was an accidental drowning related to intoxication and environmental hazard.
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