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Open verdict for death of scientist found on South Wales beach

A coroner has recorded an open verdict on a Cardiff University clinical scientist whose body was found on a South Wales beach.

Dr Dewi Holt's body washed up on the shore at Southerndown 12 days after he went missing from his home in Rhiwbina, Cardiff.

Dewi Holt's body was found on the shore at Southerndown Credit: South Wales Police

The inquest heard that Dr Holt had been prescribed an anti-depressant drug after complaining of anxiety and restlessness and difficulty in sleeping.

Dr Holt was last seen on the evening of February 26th, the day after he watched Wales play France in their Six Nations rugby match.

His blue Ford S-Max car was spotted on the M4 before being found in the car park in Ogmore-by-Sea the following day.

Pathologist Dr Ryk James told the inquest there were no injuries which would have indicated he might have fallen from cliffs and the likely cause of death was drowning.

We don't know how he entered the water. He was suffering from a condition which made him likely to suddenly collapse and he could have been walking by the shore and collapsed. There is no evidence of his state of mind and suicide has to be ruled out.

– Christopher Woolley, Cardiff Assistant Coroner