A MAN who died after his car nearly ended up in the River Lemon has been named as 66-year-old retired railway worker Richard Gallagher from the town.

Paignton-born Mr Gallagher, of 10 Newton Hall, Coach Road, died in Torbay Hospital at 8.10am on October 27.

The widower’s car had been found abandoned just two hours earlier on a slipway at Newton Abbot Town Quay where the front wheels were in the river, an opening inquest heard in Torquay heard on Friday.

Coroner’s officer Andy Sleep said: ‘Following a brief search, Mr Gallagher was recovered from the River Lemon and taken to Torbay Hospital where he sadly died.

The cause of death was given as drowning.

There were no suspicious circumstances.

A full inquest will be held later.