Brit dad, 68, killed after falling into river during yoga ritual in India as family say he is ‘dearly missed’

A DAD was killed after hitting his head and falling right into a river throughout a yoga ritual in India, an inquest heard.

Iain Francis, 68, from Devon, is believed to have been unconscious from the blow by the point he slipped into the water.

Iain Francis died whereas on a yoga retreat in IndiaCredit score: MEN Media

He was mentioned to have gone to India in October 2018 to get pleasure from this retirement in a hotter local weather with common visits again to the UK.

The supervisor of the resort the place Mr Francis was staying advised cops the Brit would do yoga and physique workout routines at a close-by riverbank.

He recalled that he had gone to the river and noticed Mr Francis floating within the water sporting shorts together with his belongings on the financial institution of the river.

A police investigation confirmed Mr Francis had by chance fallen down into the river and had hit his head on a rock on his manner into the water.

His daughter Angela mentioned: "He was a robust swimmer, though he didn't try to go within the water a lot or for lengthy durations in later years."

The coroner's conclusion was he had died by unintended drowning and there was no third social gathering involvement.

A put up mortem examination performed in India confirmed the reason for Mr Francis's dying was drowning.

It was famous that there have been lacerations to his scalp and a deep damage on the left facet of the highest of his head.

The inquest at Exeter’s County Corridor heard on Tuesday the household had endured a protracted look forward to extra data from the International Commonwealth Workplace.

Indian authorities are mentioned to have dragged their ft as a consequence of Covid pandemic, solely now confirming the small print surrounding his dying - three years later it happened.

Following the inquest, his daughters paid tribute to Mr Francis and mentioned: "Our dad was splendidly caring, humorous, delicate and beneficiant.

"He had a spirit, coronary heart and presence like nobody else and he'll all the time be dearly missed."

Mr Francis was a plumber for a few years but in addition had an in depth profession working as a monetary marketing consultant in overseas agricultural programmes.

After retiring he travelled to India on his personal and had been staying within the district of Koppal in Karnataka.

He labored in 13 nations together with Nigeria, Vietnam and Bangladesh earlier than his dying in Hanumanahalli Thungabhandra River Gangavathi.