A war veteran described as “a great man” drowned in a canal after drinking heavily following a period of hallucinations.

Paul Harper's body was found in the Grand Union Canal off Hazelbank, in Croxley Green, by a waterways worker on February 16.

The 46-year-old was 2.5 times over the drink drive limit, Hertfordshire Coroner’s Court heard today.

Mr Harper lived on the house boat Lilyback, near Hazelbank, with his friend Luciano Hailiff. His partner of 14 years, Linda Taylor, would also stay on the boat most nights.

Mr Hailiff said Mr Harper had been in low spirits since his sister had died 18 months ago.

READ MORE: Friends and family pay tribute to man found in canal

The electrician and builder, who served in the first Gulf war, had been unwell since February 12. He was suffering from sickness, diarrhoea and fever but said he was feeling better on February 14.

In the two days leading up to his death he had been hallucinating and told Miss Taylor he could see angels and the grim reaper.

He also believed there was a man on his house boat with a knife to kill him and after drinking in the pub with Mr Hailiff, told him he needed to kill himself.

After his hallucinations on February 15, Miss Taylor and Mr Hailiff called an ambulance. But Mr Harper became paranoid and reluctant to go to hospital and they cancelled it.

At around 10pm on February 15, Mr Harper said he needed some fresh air and went for a walk. It is believed that during his walk, he slipped and fell into the canal.

READ MORE: Body found in Grand Union Canal

Miss Taylor went to bed but in a statement to the coroner, said that looking back, she wished she had gone with him.

When she woke up she believed he had gone to work, but police officers knocked on the boat house at around 9.30am and told her a body had been found.

When Mr Harper was found, the temperature was only 1C and detective sergeant Daniel Stoddart said it would have been considerably colder throughout the night.

Miss Taylor died shortly after Mr Harper.

John Kelly, who was married to Mr Harper’s sister and had known him for more than 25 years, described him as a “great man”.

Mr Kelly said: “Paul was always willing to help anyone. He was great fun and didn’t take life too seriously. If something was fun, he’d always do it.

“If someone needed a lift or someone needed something fixing, he would always do it for them."

Hertfordshire coroner Geoffrey Sullivan said that Mr Harper had drowned after drinking significant amounts of alcohol.