inquest into the death of a 61-year-old St. George's man.

And Coroner Mrs. Cheryl-Ann Mapp ruled that despite swift action from several bystanders, Mr. Quinton Eric Alexander Steede died on January 31 as a result of sea water drowning by misadventure.

Mr. Steede, of Wellington Slip Road, was fishing with his friend Mr. Leon Walker in a six-foot punt about 40 feet from St. George's Boatyard shortly before 12.30 p.m. When the boat began to take on water he alerted Mr. Walker.

But due to a stroke several years ago, Mr. Walker's movement was limited and he was unable to turn around before the punt capsized.

Those at yesterday's inquest -- including Mr. Steede's sister -- heard how in an apparent attempt to save himself and his friend, Mr. Steede tried to grab the anchor rope and swim back to shore.

But the 70-foot long rope became entangled around his neck and fishing line wrapped around his ankle.

Within minutes Mr. Steede was face down in the water while Mr. Walker managed to hold on to the punt and shouted for help.

His cries were heard by St. George's South MP Mr. Sidney Stallard who was at his Wellington Park home some 500 feet away.

Mr. Stallard, who was not at the inquest, told Police he looked out of his bedroom window and saw two men about 100 feet from the shore.

One man held onto the punt waving while the other was about 15 feet from the punt, he said.

Mr. Stallard dialled 911 and called his son Scott.

The younger Mr. Stallard ran out of his house, grabbed his kayak, and canoed toward Mr. Walker who was still shouting for help.

"I shouted that I was coming, then I saw a man about 15 feet from the punt submerged,'' the local photographer told Police.

As he was approaching the men, St. George's Cup Match captain Mr. Wendell Smith was running towards the water.

Mr. Smith told the inquest he was making a phone call at Meyer's Boatyard when he heard shouts.

But initially he did not know where they were coming from and what the person was shouting.

He eventually drove down to St. George's Boatyard and saw Mr. Walker about 20 yards from the shore clinging to Mr. Steede.

At the same time Mr. Smith saw Mr. Stallard rowing toward the men and ran back to call for help, but saw Police approaching.

Mr. Smith said he then swam to Mr. Stallard who was having difficulty getting Mr. Steede to surface.

Mr. Smith managed to grab Mr. Steede, who had been lying face down in the water for ten minutes, and began swimming back to shore.

But he realised his feet were also entangled in the fishing line.

Police handed Mr. Smith a knife to cut himself free while they tended to Mr.

Steede who had no pulse and Mr. Walker who was in shock.

P.c. Alfred Fox said both men were taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital where Mr. Steede was pronounced dead.

He believed the punt was strong and could be used for fishing "under normal circumstances''.

But it was not safe to have two adults on such a boat in choppy seas and high winds.

Investigating officer P.c. Michael Minall concluded the cause of the accident was insufficient safety equipment and an "unsuitable vessel used for this purpose'', particularly with a disabled person on board.

He recommended that life jackets and other safety equipment be used on punts and life-saving vessels be available at boatyards.

Mrs. Mapp agreed. While punts are often used for fishing, she said, they rarely have the necessary safety equipment for boating accidents which can be as common as a road accident.

"If we fail to prepare for such instances, we might be inviting further disasters,'' she warned.