THE FAMILY of a man who plunged 30 feet to his death while being chased by police after a town centre brawl say his life could have been saved.

Graham Eyres drowned in shallow water in a culvert which runs under Bank Street and Crown Street while he and his brother were fleeing police after a fight.

An inquest heard earlier this week that brother Colin pleaded with police to check the water after he was captured just yards away.

A jury of four women and three men took less than two hours to return a verdict of accidental death after hearing police officers deny that Colin Eyres had mentioned his brother was missing while they questioned him on Crown Street.

Graham's sisters, Joanne and Michelle Eyres, said after the hearing: "We still believe there is a chance, however slim, that Graham could have been saved if the police had listened to Colin that night."

Eleven officers who were present at the incident gave evidence at the hearing.

All denied that Colin Eyres, then aged 25, had asked them to check the culvert for his brother.

They also denied Mr Eyres' claims that he had been kicked by officers while he was waiting for an ambulance.

Colin and Graham used the car park below Bank Street Unitarian Chapel as an escape route after being pursued by uniformed police through the town after a fight broke out on Bridge Street shortly after 2am on Sunday, April 20, 2002.

Graham and Colin, both from Swinton, attempted to jump the gap at the back of the car park.

Although Colin managed to get across the gap before cutting his leg and later being caught by police on Crown Street, Graham dropped 30 feet and knocked himself unconscious before drowning.

Graham's body was found at around 5am when Colin and a friend returned to the scene to look for him.

Supt Mike Robinson, who led the investigation into the death, said: "It was a tragic event and our sympathies go out to the family of Graham Eyres following his death.

"There was a comprehensive investigation into those events.

"The investigation was processed by the Police Complaints Authority and reviewed by the Crown Prosecution Service and it was concluded that no blame whatsoever was attributable to the police.

"That was endorsed by the accidental death verdict returned by the jury.

"In view of all circumstances, the actions of the police were reasonable and proper."