A DAD was killed after hitting his head and falling into a river during a yoga ritual in India, an inquest heard.
Iain Francis, 68, from Devon, is believed to have been unconscious from the blow by the time he slipped into the water.
He was said to have gone to India in October 2018 to enjoy this retirement in a warmer climate with regular visits back to the UK.
The manager of the hotel where Mr Francis was staying told cops the Brit would do yoga and body exercises at a nearby riverbank.
He recalled that he had gone to the river and saw Mr Francis floating in the water wearing shorts with his belongings on the bank of the river.
A police investigation confirmed Mr Francis had accidentally fallen down into the river and had hit his head on a rock on his way into the water.
His daughter Angela said: "He was a strong swimmer, although he did not attempt to go in the water much or for long periods in later years."
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The coroner's conclusion was he had died by accidental drowning and there was no third party involvement.
A post mortem examination conducted in India confirmed the cause of Mr Francis's death was drowning.
It was noted that there were lacerations to his scalp and a deep injury on the left side of the top of his head.
The inquest at Exeter’s County Hall heard on Tuesday the family had endured a long wait for more information from the Foreign Commonwealth Office.
Indian authorities are said to have dragged their feet due to Covid pandemic, only now confirming the details surrounding his death – three years later it took place.
Following the inquest, his daughters paid tribute to Mr Francis and said: "Our dad was wonderfully caring, funny, sensitive and generous.
"He had a spirit, heart and presence like no one else and he will always be dearly missed."
Mr Francis was a plumber for many years but also had an extensive career working as a financial consultant in foreign agricultural programmes.
After retiring he travelled to India on his own and had been staying in the district of Koppal in Karnataka.
He worked in 13 countries including Nigeria, Vietnam and Bangladesh before his death in Hanumanahalli Thungabhandra River Gangavathi.
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