A CORONER last night said he hoped an angler's death would be a warning to others.

After hearing how experienced fisherman Stuart Simpson died in hospital after he was washed off Redcar's South Gare breakwater into the sea, Deputy Cleveland Coroner Gordon Hetherington said: "It just shows the unpredictable power of the sea, when someone like that can be caught off-guard. If it serves a purpose, I hope it will act as a warning to others."

An inquest in Middlesbrough heard how father-of-three Mr Simpson had worn a new survival suit on the day he went fishing for the last time.

Tragedy struck when the 41-year-old demolition worker was fishing with his friend Mark Anthony Noble and his two sons, Philip and Mark Noble, in January.

Mark Noble Jnr said he saw Mr Simpson, who was two or three metres from the water, crouch down as if to roll a cigarette from his bait bag, as waves started breaking over the jetty.

Mr Noble said that when he next looked over to Mr Simpson, he "saw him on his bottom going over the edge".

He threw a life ring into the water, but the rope on the end was too short to reach Mr Simpson, who was about 30 metres offshore.

Mr Noble and his father then threw all the life rings they could find towards him in the hope he would be able to reach one of them, as the sea grew rougher and conditions deteriorated.

PC John Davison said in evidence: "There was no way I could get Stuart without jeopardising my own safety."

Mr Simpson, who lived in Kirkstone Grove, Redcar, was eventually pulled from the water, but died in hospital of water immersion and oxygen starvation, despite attempts to save him.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Hetherington said: "I think what happened, therefore, he was caught off balance, did not appreciate a wave was coming until too late, and before he knew what was happening, was swept off the breakwater."

Mr Simpson's widow, Joanne, 35, said after the hearing: "It is nice to know what happened to him. A lot of people asked me and I could not give an answer."