A FATHER of two drowned while working in Amsterdam, a Bolton inquest was told.

David Young, aged 32, died in a canal after a night out with a colleague last July.

Mr Young's wife, Joanne, and his parents, who live in the Bolton area, were present to hear the Coroner, Jennifer Leeming, record an open verdict.

Mr Young, an information technology expert, had just been given a job in Paris, where he was due to move with his wife and young son James. But a night out with friend Dewy Williams ended in tragedy.

Statements read from Dutch police and Mr Williams said Mr Young had drunk a considerable amount of alcohol.

He had been lying on a bench with Mr Williams while looking for a club which they couldn't find. Mr Williams said he may have heard or seen Mr Young get up, but could not remember because he had fallen asleep.

Mr Young's body was found two days later floating in the canal and his wife flew to Amsterdam to identify him.

A Home Office pathologist's report said Mr Young had two-and-a-quarter times the legal drink-drive limit in his blood, but this could have been diluted because of the water.

Mr Young's family said he could handle his drink well and they could not understand why he would go near water when he was not a competent swimmer.

The coroner said: "There are questions which will never be answered and I accept that inquests into deaths abroad are unsatisfactory."