IPSWICH: For one Ipswich family, not knowing what led to death of their treasured son and brother has made their grief all the harder to bear.

Nathan Davis, 19, pictured, died after falling from the Orwell Bridge in the early hours of July 12, an inquest has heard.

Nathan, of Belstead Avenue, had been out with friends before he was spotted “staggering” at the top of the bridge by two passing motorists.

At an inquest into Nathan’s death, Greater Suffolk coroner Dr Peter Dean said post-mortem tests revealed his blood alcohol level was nearly three times the legal drink-drive limit.

Police arrived at the scene at 3am, but found no trace of Nathan on the bridge. Shortly afterwards a lifeboat recovered the former Stoke and Northgate High School student’s body from the river.

Dr Dean noted Nathan’s recent good exam results in his first year at Nottingham University.

He said: “There remain unanswered questions over what the intentions Nathan had that night actually were.

“That this tragedy has taken place seems very surprising. We don’t have evidence he took his own life – it could have been an accident against a background of a raised alcohol level.”

Speaking after the inquest, dad Mark Davis said: “What happened to Nathan is tragic but he was far from a tragic person.

“I don’t think we will ever really know what happened that night or why, and that just makes it harder for us all.”

n Did you know Nathan? Call The Evening Star news desk on 01473 324788 or e-mail starnews@eveningstar.co.uk