A pensioner whose love of the sea was inspired by his father's Royal Navy career, drowned during one of his regular swims, an inquest heard.

Retired clerical officer Lionel Jobson may have suffered a fainting fit or been caught up in choppy water.

The 70-year-old swam back stroke most days off the coast at Seaford, when weather conditions were good.

He would always wear lightweight plimsolls and burgundy swimming trunks with his Yale door key pinned to them.

The hearing in Eastbourne heard that after lunch on September 13 last year, Mr Jobson, of Merryfield Court, Marine Parade, Seaford, went for a dip.

Weather conditions were bright and warm and the sea calm, although a little choppy further out.

But a neighbour became anxious after noticing his pile of clothes were still on the beach and Merryfield Court resident manager Clare Biddiscombe knocked on his door while another resident conducted a search along the shore.

As concern mounted, a water skier, Andrew Adams, of The Lookout, Peacehaven, noticed a body face down and motionless in the water.

Newhaven lifeboat was launched to recover the body, off Newhaven Marina.

Despite attempts to resuscitate him on dry land, Mr Jobson was pronounced dead at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

A post-mortem examination carried out by pathologist Dr Neera Patel revealed he had drowned.

Tests ruled out foul play and showed he had no natural disease and that no medical event had caused him to die.

However, close friend Janet Hanks, from Sutton, Surrey, said Mr Jobson had a fainting fit while on a cruise some months before.

Mrs Biddiscombe said she had a 20-minute conversation with the pensioner before his swim and said he sounded fine.

She said: "In fact, he was talking about his plans to buy a computer. There was no concern at all."

Mrs Biddiscombe later checked his room with police officers and found he had prepared his evening meal and laid out his clothes ready for his return.

Mr Jobson's sister, Vivien Bennett, from London, said he had a great affinity with the sea as their father had spent 20 years in the Navy.

Coroner Alan Craze recorded a verdict of accidental death.