A Pembroke man, who was found floating in the waters off North Shore in Devonshire earlier this year, may have slipped off the rocks into the water while urinating and been unable to climb back out.

Kenneth Ambrose Ebbin's body was taken from the water on March 5, 1994.

Coroner the Wor. Charles-Etta Simmons ruled that the Friswell's Hill man's death was misadventure although it was also consistent with drowning.

Dr. John Winwick, who is a consultant pathologist at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, said an autopsy revealed that Ebbin had the equivalent of 11 beers or 10 ounces of strong spirits in his blood and urine.

"His death was not natural although it was consistent with drowning,'' he said. "And there was no unexplained trauma or disease.'' Meanwhile, Det. Con. Brendon Smith said that after Ebbin's body was removed from the water and taken to hospital, he removed $1,901 from his pocket.

Ebbin's aunt, Ann Berkley, said she last saw her nephew between 12 noon and 2:30 p.m. on March 1 on Cedar Avenue.

"He appeared to be in good spirits,'' she said, "although he had just been laid off from his job at the Tynes Bay Incinerator.'' Investigating officer P.c. Colin Paynter said Peter Visveniek swam out to the body around 9.30 a.m. on March 5 after his girlfriend told him that she had seen something mysterious in the water.

P.c. Paynter said Ebbin was married, although he was separated from his wife due to his alcohol and drug problems.

Ebbin, he said, had had repeated encounters with Police during his life but was attempting to get his drug and alcohol problems sorted out and hoped to get his marriage back together.

P.c. Paynter said there was nothing that would lead him to conclude that Ebbin's death was a suicide or that he had been murdered.

However, he pointed out that Ebbin was wearing two pairs of pants which both had the zipper undone.

"He may have slipped into the water and couldn't return to shore,'' he said.

"The $1,901 was money he had received from the Bermuda Industrial Union. It was part of the holiday pay he had accumulated.''