A Coroner on Friday ruled that last year's drowning of a physically challenged artist was death by suicide.

The body of Clyde Stovell, a renowned artist and physically challenged activist, was found strapped to his wheelchair submerged in seven feet of water by the Harrington Sound dock at Devil's Hole on December 27, 1997.

Mr. Stovell was a paraplegic, having lost the use of his arms and legs in a motorcycle accident in 1978.

During the inquest, pathologist John Winwick confirmed that Mr. Stovell's cause of death was consistent with drowning.

Coroner Tyrone Chin on Friday agreed with Dr. Winwick's analysis and expressed sympathy to family and friends over Mr. Stovell's death, stating that "he was not only well known, but obviously well liked''.

Prior to his death, Mr. Stovell told attending staff at Summerhaven about a journey he planned to take -- despite the fact that none of his belongings had been packed.

Staff treated his comments as indicators of severe depression and contacted his family.

But Mr. Stovell was discovered dead in the water by a passerby the following day.

Mr. Stovell was a senior member of the Bermuda Physically Handicapped Association and widely known in art circles after learning how to paint by mouth.

Clyde Stovell