A father-of-two was found dead in a paddling pool in a back garden with his girlfriend in a heart-breaking double tragedy, an inquest heard.
Jason Bentham was discovered in the water by police officers who attended the address in St Helens on May 8.
The 43-year-old was alongside his partner and mother-of-three Michelle Slater with a hosepipe running hot water into the pool from a tap in the kitchen.
The bodies of 43-year-old Jason Bentham (left) and his girlfriend Michelle Slater, 44, (right) were discovered earlier this year in a paddling pool in the garden of a home in Merseyside
Mr Bentham had an apparent wound to his right eyebrow, coroner’s officer Clair Sajewicz said, at the Parbold Avenue property.
In a pathologist’s report, it was found the paddling pool was full to the top with water, and both bodies were ‘largely submerged.’
The Bootle Town Hall hearing was told how neighbours had heard sounds from the 60cm-deep pool during the Thursday evening, May 7, and at 11.20pm, a woman’s voice was heard to say, ‘it’s hot, it’s hot!’
The inquest heard how Michelle, 44, and Jason had been drinking on the evening before they both died.
Relatives told investigators Billinge-born Mr Bentham was known to consume alcohol on a regular basis and occasionally used cannabis and cocaine, Ms Sajewicz said.
The window cleaner’s inquest was held on Thursday, a week after that of his girlfriend, to allow more family members to attend.
Mr Bentham’s cause of death was recorded as immersion hypothermia and acute alcohol intoxication and Diazepam consumption.
Immersion hypothermia, when your core body temperature drops below 35C, occurs much more quickly than regular hypothermia because water conducts heat away from the body 25 times faster than air.
The effect of combining alcohol and the powerful sedative drug could be dangerous when taken together, it has been heard.
Last week, an inquest heard Michelle also died from immersion hypothermia after drinking and taking sedatives.
Coroner Julie Goulding said: ‘Jason Bentham sadly died on May 8, 2020, at Parbold Avenue St Helens, Merseyside.
‘Jason and his partner had been drinking during the evening as well as spending time together in the paddling pool where both their bodies were discovered with a hose pipe running hot water into it from the kitchen.
‘A Home Office post mortem was undertaken and police were satisfied there was no third party involvement in their tragic deaths.’
Merseyside Police were called to the home (pictured) in St Helens, Merseyside, on May 8 over reports of a body lying in a water-filled paddling pool at the back, an inquest heard
A narrative conclusion was recorded, outlining the circumstances in which Mr Bentham was found.
The couple had been in a relationship for only a short period of time and in the weeks after the tragedy, heartbroken relatives paid tribute to them both.
One of Mr Bentham’s brothers said: ‘God bless bruv[sic], love you always.’
He added: ‘There is a God, I know this now because he only takes the best.
‘And he was the best, I miss him so much.’
One friend said: ‘One of the kindest lads you could meet, you’ll never be forgotten in our hearts forever, Jason.’
Another added: ‘I will always love you and miss you my old friend. RIP Jakey boy.’
Ms Slater’s brother said earlier: ‘Two days ago I got the news that my beautiful sister’s body had been found.
‘I am absolutely devastated and shocked that she is no longer with us all.
‘She had only just celebrated her birthday two days earlier.
‘She was the most caring and loving sister anybody could of asked for and it is absolutely heart-breaking that she is leaving behind a heartbroken dad and mum, three brothers, a sister and three wonderful and amazing children, and four beautiful grandchildren.
‘RIP Michelle, I will always love you and I know I will see you again one day.
‘You will be forever in my heart and always remembered. Sleep tight Angel.’