AN INQUEST has opened into the death of a man who was pulled from Poole Quay after falling into the water in a wheelchair.

Murdo Macleod Mackenzie, 74, was recovered from the water but pronounced dead at the scene.

Area coroner for Dorset, Brendan Allen, opened the inquest into his death at Bournemouth Town Hall on October 29.

Coroner’s officer, Nicola Muller, told Dorset Coroner’s Court that Murdo was born in Stornoway, Scotland, in 1950.

He was a retired electrical engineer, married and living at an address in Bournemouth at the time of his death.

Ms Muller said Dorset Police were alerted by members of the public on October 22 that a man had fallen into Poole Quay in a wheelchair.

When officers arrived, the RNLI had already searched the water and recovered a body.

The person was confirmed to be Murdo by an officer using comparison with photo ID.

Police have said there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

A postmortem examination was conducted by Dr Adel Muhaisen which found his provisional cause of death to be drowning.

Mr Allen adjourned the hearing for a full inquest on May 8, 2025, at 10am.

He requested statements from Murdo’s family, GP, police and from mental health and alcohol services if he was known to them.

It was previously reported police attended the incident along with the RNLI, ambulance and fire services.

A Dorset Police spokesperson previously said: “Dorset Police received a report at 1.24pm on Tuesday 22 October 2024 raising concern for the welfare of a man in the water at The Quay in Poole.

“Officers attended with the ambulance and fire services, as well as the coastguard and RNLI.

“Very sadly, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

“The death is not being treated as suspicious and HM coroner has been notified.

“The man’s next of kin has been informed and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.

“A cordon was put in place to allow emergency services to deal with the incident.

“It was lifted at around 2.45pm.”