A man fell into a lake in the “pitch black” darkness and drowned after drinking alcohol and taking drugs, an inquest heard.

Paul Hughes, 42, of Eastry Close in Ashford, was pulled from the Conningbrook boating lakes on Sunday, September 11, more than 40 minutes after his first cries for help.

The inquest at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court today heard Mr Hughes was on a fishing trip with a friend.

During the day, the pair had noticed a 15-year-old boy across the lake, who was also camping by himself and fishing.

It was in the early hours of Sunday that Mr Hughes went over to check on the lad, who was asleep in his own tent.

Acting Det Sgt Andrew West, who gave evidence at the hearing, said: “He went fishing with a friend, they made a few days of it and on that particular day he fell into the water there was a boy and they were doing checks to make sure he was safe.

“It was remote and at night it was completely pitch black, there was no natural or other lighting.

“It was very difficult to tell where the ground ended and where the lake began.”

The inquest heard from a toxicology report that Mr Hughes had drank enough alcohol to be twice the drink-driving limit and that he had also taken cocaine and cannabis.

The alarm was raised when Mr Hughes’ friend heard splashes and a scream for help.

Firefighters, paramedics, and police officers from the dog unit were eventually called at about 1.11am when Mr Hughes’ friend and the teenager couldn’t find him.

A thermal imaging camera had been used to scan the shore but crews later entered the water in wet suits to reach him.

He was rushed to the William Harvey Hospital at 2.47am and was pronounced dead at 3.14am.

The medical cause of death from the post-mortem examination showed Mr Hughes died from asphyxia, drowning and the consumption of alcohol and drugs.

Assistant coroner Kate Thomas recorded a verdict of an accidental death.