Two men have been praised at an inquest for their bravery in trying to save a Bradford migraine sufferer who fell into the murky depths of a reservoir.

PC Adrian Newman and firefighter Darren Mitchell pulled out 30-year-old Stephen Kaye after he had fallen off a concrete ledge at Chellow Dene Reservoir, near Bradford, last July.

Coroner Roger Whittaker told them they were brave men and thanked them for what they tried to do.

The inquest was told how both men, attached to a rope, went into the cold water to search for Mr Kaye, of Allerton Grange Drive, Bradford, before he was found on the reservoir bed in about 10 feet of water.

Mr Mitchell, based at Fairweather Green fire station, described how he came up for air after he managed to spot someone through the green murky water.

He said: ''We both counted to three and went down. I got back down and pulled him up.''

PC Newman, based at Lawcroft House police station, said: "The water was actually very cold, enough to take your breath away.''

Mr Kaye was rushed to Bradford Royal Infirmary but despite efforts to revive him, he died from drowning six hours later.

Two teenage girls, who had seen Mr Kaye sitting by the reservoir on a narrow ledge drinking a can of lager, thought he was depressed.

Marissa Grimshaw said: "His face looked really depressed and looked deep in thought as well. He just looked depressed.''

She added: "He threw the can of lager in the water when he finished. He was sitting down. He went forward. He just went in.''

Tests revealed that Mr Kaye, who had two daughters, had drunk the equivalent of nearly four and a half pints of beer.

Mr Whittaker recorded a verdict of accidental death.

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