Dad found finger marks in the muddy bank where his fishing fanatic son, 20, slipped and drowned
Tyler Cook, 20, had been out fishing when tragedy struck, with his family finding his abandoned equipment by the reservoir banks
A KEEN young fisherman who died after falling into a reservoir left marks at the water's edge as he desperately tried to crawl out of the muddy banks.
Tyler Cook failed to arrive home after a day out fishing, with his dad David left to search for the missing 20-year-old.
An inquest into the young man's death heard that the dad found fingermarks on the banking where Tyler would have slipped into the water.
Mr Cook also found his son's fishing equipment by the side of the reservoir with his car parked nearby.
He said the fingermarks "looked like somebody had tried to climb out of the water onto the bank" at the reservoir in Cwmbran, South Wales.
The young man had only recently moved in with his long-term girlfriend before tragedy struck on May 20.
The young woman had become concerned about Tyler, raising the alarm when he did not pick her up after work that afternoon.
Nadine White recently shared a tribute to the young man, calling him her rock, best friend and soul mate.
She wrote: "I'm so empty and lost with out u I carnt (sic) explain the pain I feel everyday."
(It) looked like somebody had tried to climb out of the water onto the bank
David Cook
Mr Cook said his son was a 'limited swimmer' and if he had fallen in he could have "panicked".
Tyler, of Torfaen, Gwent, was found dead later that evening.
Newport Coroner Wendy James said it appeared the 20-year-old had slipped into the water accidentally.
She returned a conclusion of accidental death.
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