Man fell 50ft to his death trying to get out of car park after 4am night out in Bolton

A man fell to his death while attempting to escape from a car park after becoming "trapped", an inquest has heard.

Craig Hodkinson, 33, died after plunging 50ft into the River Croal in Bolton town centre in the early hours of September 13 of last year. His body was not discovered until four days later.

An inquest at Bolton Coroner’s Court today (Monday) heard that Craig became stuck in the secure car park - at the rear of a block of flats - after visiting a friend following a drunken night out.

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While attempting to leave the building at about 4am, he mistakenly entered its car park.

After realising he was stuck, he climbed a fence at the rear of the car park in an attempt to find a way out. But as he walked along a narrow ledge overlooking the river, he fell and suffered "unsurvivable injuries".

The inquest heard that Craig had spent the hours prior to his death drinking at a number of pubs around Bolton.

While at the Swan and Barristers pub, Craig "bumped into" an acquaintance, Elliott Riley. At about 1am, the pair later left the pub together and headed to Mr Riley’s flat in nearby Stone Cross House.

Craig left the flat at about 4am as Mr Riley had to get up for work the following morning, the inquest heard. Mr Riley said he offered to phone a taxi for Craig but he insisted on walking home.

CCTV footage showed Craig leaving the flat and entering the lift within the building. But after the door failed to close, Craig got out of the lift and mistakenly walked through an exit into a car park at the back of the building.

He tried to leave through the vehicular exit but was unable to do so. Craig then began walking around the car park in search for another