Coroner calls for canal safety measures after Wigan dad's drowning death

Michael Greenall, known to his loved ones as Mikey, drowned in the Leeds-Liverpool canal near lock 77 at Rose Bridge, following a night out with friends last September.

The 27-year-old dad-of-two became “incapacitated, confused, and disorientated” after drinking around seven pints and taking diazepam tablets - which he was using to treat sleeping problems - before falling into the water while making his way to a friend’s house.

There were no barriers or lighting on the path, and the area where he died was in total darkness at the time of his death, which was sometime between 10pm and midnight on September 18 2020.

Mr Greenall’s body was found in the water on September 23 after several days of searching, though the inquest concluded that he died on the night he went missing.

The tragedy occurred less than a month after the death of 22-year-old Matthew Dutton, whose body was found just yards away in late August. Mr Dutton had also been out drinking with friends before making his way down the canalside and falling in.

During the inquest at Bolton Coroners Court, senior coroner Timothy Brennand referenced Mr Dutton’s death, and confirmed he would write to both Wigan Council and the Canals and Rivers Trust, urging them to take action to prevent any more tragedies on the fatal stretch of water.

Mr Greenall's partner, Alex Ince, attended the inquest with her late partner's mother, Janet. Ms Ince had met him Mr Greenall in high school and they had two children, Ruby and Mikey Jr.

She told the inquest that the area where he had died was “pitch black” in the evenings, and that “you can’t even see your hand in front of your face.”

In the days after the tragedy, the bereaved family had launched a petition calling for better lighting and fencing in the area. Mr Brennand agreed with their cause, stating that he would be immediately writing to the relevant authorities, with a request for detailed next steps on any action taken.

After recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Brennand said: “By reason of the deceased’s self-induced intoxication, he became incapacitated, confused and disoriented when attempting to walk to an acquaintance’s house, falling in a canal and drowning.

“It is quite plain to me that this is a case that has a resonance with a second case that this court has dealt with. Before me on the 2nd February 2021, I conducted an inquest touching the death of Matthew John Dutton. In relation to Mr Dutton’s death, he was recovered by an underwater search team at lock 79 of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal in Rose Bridge, in Ince.

He went on: “What I can do... is to write to the Canal and River Trust and Wigan Council to make clear that I have matters of concern in relation to the issue of the fact that within the period of canal between lock 77 and lock 79, this is the second tragedy to have befallen local residents in that area. Open stretches of water can kill.”

Mr Brennand added: “I will write with immediate effect to the two agencies that I have indicated, the council and the canals trust, and express my own concerns in relation to the issue of water safety and will ask for a response within three months, so that I can understand exactly has happened and what has come of the inter-agency approach.”

Earlier in the proceedings, Mr Brennand had heard details of Mr Greenall's life from Ms Ince, who told the courtroom that he was a father who “completely doted on his children” and was a hard worker. He was “outgoing and very popular”, the inquest heard.

On the day of his death, Mr Greenall, a labourer, had finished work at midday and gone out for drinks with friends, before coming home to help with picking the kids up from school. Ms Ince said that when he returned home he was “in a very good mood”.

The couple went out together that night to the pub, where they had a minor exchange about Mr Greenall’s frequent use of the fruit machines. She left for home and expected him to go to a friend’s house or his mum’s, which he often did after a small argument.

However, when he did not return the next morning and would not pick up his phone, he was reported missing to the police.

Ms Ince said after the inquest: “His mum and dad couldn’t have wished for a better son. We all love and miss him every day.”

The petition for safety measures on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal can be viewed by clicking here.

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