A father drowned in a pond after having an epileptic fit while on a bird shoot.

Carpenter and farmer Andrew Walker, 29, was a member of a 14-strong group taking part in an organised afternoon shoot on September 21 last year, an inquest heard yesterday.

The members were grouped in an L shape at the remote pond at Pebsham Farm, Bexhill, with Mr Walker at one end up to his knees in water and wearing chest waders.

At one point he was hidden by reeds for about five minutes. The alarm was raised when his gun dog began behaving strangely, swimming around the pond.

Friend Warren King found Mr Walker, of Downash, Hailsham, with his face submerged and still holding his loaded double-barrelled shotgun.

An inquest in Hastings heard he had suffered an epileptic fit, fallen into the pond and swallowed water and silt.

Members of the group hauled Mr Walker on to dry land and tried to revive him at the scene.

He was certified dead, however, 20 minutes after arrival at the Conquest Hospital in Hastings.

Pathologist Dr Ian Hawley said in a statement that toxicology tests for drugs and alcohol had been negative and the cause of death was drowning.

He said: "It is less clear exactly why he drowned.

"There is a history of epilepsy but there are conflicting accounts of how well controlled it was.

"Given the absence of any trauma, the most likely scenario was that he suffered a fit or fainted, most likely because of epilepsy, and that resulted in his drowning."

Mr King said the married father knew the area and had been game shooting there before.

Mr Walker's widow, Sarah, was at the hearing.

East Sussex Coroner Alan Craze recorded a verdict of accidental death.

He said: "He had an epileptic fit, which resulted in him falling into the pond and he was found taking in water and silt.

"Everything points to it being an accident rather than a death by natural causes.

"He didn't drown as a result of an epileptic fit. He drowned having had an epileptic fit, then falling into the water.

"So many people are affected by his death."