A 'WORLD globetrotter' has died as a result of an accident following what is thought to be a fall, an inquest heard.

Darren Clive Thompson died at the age of 58 from hypothermia after falling and hitting his head, The Coroner's Court in Cockermouth was told.

His brother David Thompson described the Walney man as a "world globetrotter" due to his sailing passion which took him all over the world and even saw him skipper Pink Floyd band member Richard Wright's boat.

"He went to infants’ school, junior school, and secondary school all on Walney, before going on to do an apprenticeship at the shipyard," Mr Thompson said in a statement read to the court.

"Darren was not an academic or a sportsman but was a keen sailor.

"He sailed to Antigua in the West Indies and travelled the world and had an awesome sailing career.

"Sadly, he never married and did not have any children.

"He enjoyed sailing, listening to music, and partying."

David Thompson admitted that his brother struggled with alcoholism and had struggled to stop drinking.

David Nicholson, who found the Court Gardens resident deceased, said that he would often see bottles of alcohol in his house and was concerned his drinking had increased since he returned from Antigua.

He went on to say how it was odd when the labourer by trade did not answer his phone or was sat in his usual position on the sofa. So, he entered the house to check on the man he had known for more than 40 years to find a trail of blood leading to the bathroom where he found him.

Statements from police and paramedics who attended the scene on April 30 read to the court also confirmed a trail of blood leading to the bathroom as well as a smashed glass panel.

The post-mortem undertaken by pathologist Dr Rodgers said that the injuries he sustained to the head were not consistent with assault but from a fall or a collapse possibly as a result of alcohol withdrawal seizure due to his alcohol dependence syndrome. However, a toxicological analysis was not possible as he had been deceased for a long time, the court was told.

The cause of death given was hypothermia as well as facial lacerations and haemorrhage due to a blunt force head injury.

"Mr Thompson has died as a result of an accident," coroner Ms Kirsty Gomersal said in her conclusion.

"Pertinent evidence is that there were no suspicious circumstances, and this was due to a fall or collapse."