Mystery over Walsall pensioner's death at Turkey resort

But the exact cause of Ronald Picken's death remains a mystery as a coroner heard his family had been given little information about what happened to him.

An inquest heard the 81-year-old, from High Heath, Walsall, told his wife he was going for a paddle in the sea.

It was the last time she heard from him as she was alerted a few minutes later by frantic locals telling her there was a problem.

A post-mortem in Turkey a second examination in the Black Country proved inconclusive, the hearing was told.

Water was found in Mr Picken's lungs by the Turkish pathologist but Black Country Coroner Zafar Siddique said he could not be sure Mr Picken had drowned and that it was possible he could have collapsed into the water, particularly as he wasn't much of a swimmer.

Mrs and Mrs Picken were on holiday in the resort town of Marmaris on July 3 when the incident happened.

He was found at the water's edge and a German doctor attended to him at the beach before he was put into an ambulance. His family were later informed he had died.

Bonita Poole, senior investigator for the coroner, told the hearing in Oldbury: "He was with his wife on the beach. He didn't usually swim but did go for a paddle. He had no medical conditions.

"His wife was reading a book and he said he was going for a paddle.

"The next thing, these Turkish people were trying to converge to tell her what happened."

She added: "The post-mortem in Turkey remained unascertained. The family has been told it could be more than six months before they know anything."

Mr Siddique speculated Mr Picken could suffered a 'cardiac incident' but that it was not possible to say what has caused his death.

He said: "There is not clear evidence of drowning and for that reason my conclusion is an open conclusion.

"It could be possible it was a cardiac-related event and he collapsed into the water.

"It's not clear whether he would have entered the water intentionally."