Artist found drowned two weeks after "trivial" row with mum 'slipped and fell into ditch'
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A troubled artist found drowned two weeks after going missing from home likely slipped and fell into a ditch, an inquest heard.
Craig Farrow, 36, disappeared after a "trivial" row with his mum when they returned from walking their dog.
More than two weeks passed before his body was found by a search and rescue team partially submerged in water in a dyke near Howden railway station.
An inquest into Mr Farrow's death at Hull Coroner's Court it is likely he slipped and fell into the ditch before he died.
Paying tribute to her son, his mum said she believed his life could have been saved had he “shown his cartoons to the world", the Hull Daily Mail reports.
(Image: Hull Daily Mail WS)
“His passion came from art," she said. "He drew cartoons from the age of 12, and his drawings really stood out.
“He always wanted to get enough money together to do something with art. Hull College were keen to have him, but he declined as he did not like being around many people.
“We tried to persuade him that his drawings were high quality, but he could not see it.
“I think if he believed in himself more and showed them to the world, it would have saved his life.”
Mr Farrow left his home in Howden, on June 30 last year, after he had been for a walk with his mum.
The pair had argued over something “trivial,” and when they returned back home he said he wanted to get out.
He took his bank card and passport and left.
“I thought he might have gone out in Hull drinking, but I became worried when he did not return the next day,” his mum said.
“It was very unlike him to go 24 hours without us knowing where he was. He left his phone in the house, but I thought he might have got drunk and been arrested.
“I called the police at 9.30am the next day, and he became a missing person.”
A large police appeal was issued in a bid to find Mr Farrow.
CCTV captured him visiting Bargain Booze in Howden just half an hour after he left his home, where he had bought a bottle of rum and coke.
Two weeks went by before a search and rescue team began scouring the area between Howden and its railway station, following a tip-off from someone who had seen him walking.
At around 8pm on July 17, his body was found in a ditch, partially submerged in water.
A post-mortem found he had died from drowning and asphyxiation, and ruled alcohol had played “a significant role.”
His mum described Mr Farrow as having “a heart of gold.”
She said he had lots of friends growing up, but in recent years had become more withdrawn due to a battle with anxiety and depression.
He had engaged with mental health services, and was described by a social worker as being “bright and cheerful,” and having “a warm relationship with his mum.”
Grass was found to be smoothed down in the area where he had entered the dyke, and it was concluded by senior coroner Professor Paul Marks that Mr Farrow had likely slipped down.
A conclusion of accidental death was recorded.