A BORTH man who drowned after being thrown from a boat after it was hit by a wave in “increasingly choppy” seas in August could still be alive if he was wearing a lifejacket, an inquest has heard.

William Davies, 64, known as Bill, died after he and his best friend Alan Jones, 42, were thrown from their boat on their way back into the harbour following a fishing trip on Wednesday, 31 August.

An inquest held in Aberystwyth on Tuesday heard that Mr Jones had desperately tried to save his friend who was in a “state of panic” after being thrown out of the boat.

Neither were wearing lifejackets, and the kill-cord used to shut off the boat’s engine in case the driver went overboard had been disconnected by Mr Jones in order to stand up to steer to get a better view.

Mr Davies became unwell with a bout of seasickness, the inquest heard, and the pair headed back to Aberystwyth harbour.

On their return journey, around 300 yards from shore, the boat was rocked by a “freak wave”, hurling the pair out of the boat.

“I was thrown out into the water over where Bill was sitting,” Mr Jones told the inquest.

“Initially I didn’t think he had gone in but then I saw him in the sea struggling.

“The boat was circling and went over the top of Bill on the second time round.

“Bill was screaming at me from the water, and I had him in arms, treading water.

“He went rigid in my arms and wasn’t breathing at that stage, that’s when I had to let him go.”

The pair were picked up by lifeboat crews, with Mr Davies taken to Bronglais Hospital.

He was pronounced dead at around 11am.

Ceredigion coroner Peter Brunton said there were a “number of factors that cause concern” in Mr Davies’ death.

“The sea conditions were really rough and not wearing lifejackets in itself must be a very strong factor,” he said.

Recording a verdict of death by misadventure, Mr Brunton said it was a “completely unexpected tragedy”.

The cause of death was drowning.

If you have been distressed or disturbed by this report, you can ring the Samaritans on 08457 909090