A trainee accountant was balancing on the parapet of Ouse Bridge when he fell in the river, an inquest has heard.
Paul Alan Rogerson, 26, of Arthur Street, York, had been on a night out when he jumped on to Ouse Bridge and began to walk along it. But the Aviva worker lost his footing and fell into the river, an inquest heard.
Police tried to throw ropes in to Mr Rogerson but he struggled to stay afloat and went beneath the surface several minutes later.
His body was found hours afterwards, the court heard.
Coroner Donald Coverdale said: “He was out on a night out and had consumed a quantity of alcohol when he was seen to jump on to the Ouse Bridge wall at Kings Staith. He was seen to attempt to walk along the wall but lost his footing and fell into the Ouse.” A post-mortem examination found that Mr Rogerson had drowned.
Mr Rogerson, who was a single man originally from Morecambe, was identified by his mother Karen, the court heard. He had moved to York in 2008.
Colleagues say he moved to the unit pricing team last year. The tragedy happened at about 2am on March 26 when witnesses saw Mr Rogerson slip from the bridge into the river. The fall sparked a search involving a police helicopter from West Yorkshire, an underwater diving team and fire service rescue boats.
In a joint statement, his colleagues at Aviva said: “Paul was a well-liked, fun-loving guy. His infectious personality touched everyone he met.
“He was a much-respected colleague and friend to so many in the unit pricing team. He will be sorely missed.”
He leaves parents, Alan and Karen, brothers David and Daniel and sister Nikita.