An East Sussex woman died after going swimming in a hotel pool while on holiday, an inquest heard.

Patricia Lewis, 53, was dragged from the Florida pool by her partner Ronald Richards after he spotted her face down in the water.

The couple, who had lived together at Beechy Road, Uckfield, for ten years, were joined on the two-week break by friend Vanessa Powell from Essex.

On November 11 the trio spent some time on the beach before returning to the hotel pool in Marco Island when the weather turned sour.

Mr Richards and Miss Powell were reading by the side of the pool when Miss Lewis, a loss adjuster, decided to go for a dip.

Mr Richards told the Eastbourne inquest: "I watched her as she swam across the pool then returned to reading my book, occasionally glancing up towards her.

"A little time later I saw her face down in the water. At first I thought she was just looking down to the bottom of the pool, which she often did.

"I got up and as I walked around to where she was noticed her face was still down in the water. That's when I knew there was a problem."

Mr Richards waded into the water and dragged her out. Despite attempts to resuscitate her, Miss Lewis died later in hospital.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, East Sussex Coroner Alan Craze, said: "It doesn't answer what everybody asks, and that is how did it happen? Was there a momentary lapse or blackout, or did she get out of her depth?

"These are the questions which it doesn't look as if we are going to get answered."