A DAD who drowned in the River Irwell had battled with depression, anxiety and addiction for years, an inquest heard.

Joiner Craig Mann had been living in St Helens Road with his partner Claire Taylor but was reported missing to police when he did not come home on August 20, prompting a huge search.

A dogwalker spotted his body in the water near the Kearsley Mill, on August 21, 2019, where it appeared to have drifted down from Moses Gate Country Park.

An inquest at Bolton Coroners Court heard that the father-of-two had an “addictive personality” and had previously struggled with a dependency on painkiller cocodamol, before turning to alcohol and cocaine.

The 34-year-old separated from his wife Maria after she discovered 18 empty plastic snap bags hidden in the bathroom of their home ­— and found out he had spent £800 in two weeks on cocaine.

In the lead up to Mr Mann’s death he had moved in with a new girlfriend Miss Taylor ­— and she said he initially seemed to be coping without drugs or alcohol.

However, in May 2019 he became concerned about a job he was working on and what he would do after it came to an end.

On August 19 he took an overdose of pills and cocaine, which left him in accident and emergency at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Mental health services assessed Mr Mann and allowed him to leave hospital with his partner the following day. But a day later, he was reported missing.

Pathologist Dr Patrick Waugh recorded the cause of death as drowning but also found “excessive” amounts of cocaine and alcohol in his system.

Unlike previous overdoses, he had thrown his phone away before going to Moses Gate Park and left notes, the inquest heard.

Assistant coroner Catherine Cundy concluded that the death was a suicide.

She said: “I am satisfied that Craig did not expect to be diverted from his plan and that he went into the water with the intent to take his own life.

“It’s a tragic waste of a young man still at a very young age.”

Mrs Mann said: "I loved him. He was a hard worker and he looked after the kids, he was a great father.

“No matter what state of mind Craig was in and whether he was dealing with addiction he always went to work.

“There was a time when he had dislocated his shoulder but he still went to work. He always wanted to provide for the family and we wanted for nothing."