Drunk Englishman died after 9.6m fall

A drunk Englishman died after a 9.6 metre drop from the fire escape of a Queenstown bar he was trying to sneak back into, a coroner has found.

Coroner David Crerar said James Patrick Smith, a 25 snowboard instructor, died about 11pm on June 4 after falling from the fire escape of the Altitude Bar.

The coroner's report stated Mr Smith had earlier been kicked out of the bar for drunkenness and was probably looking for another way in, The Southland Times reported.

"James Smith was so adversely affected by alcohol that he was unable to conduct himself in a safe manner," Mr Crerar said.

Mr Smith fell when he was climbing from the fire escape onto the roof of the bar, landing in the floor of an alley off Shotover street.

The coroner recommended the National Addiction Centre and the Alcohol Advisory Council be sent a copy of his report.

- NZPA