A MAN’S pet dog tried desperately to rescue him when he fell into a stream and drowned while drunk, an inquest heard.

Gary Munt, 58, was walking with Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Jess, next to the stream near Baird Close, Slough, when he tripped and fell in.

CCTV footage showed him unsteady on his feet as he checked his phone before the tumble.

Describing the footage, Assistant Coroner for Berkshire, Emma Jones, said: “At one point he veers close to the stream. He looks at his telephone once more and stumbles backwards and falls into the stream.

“No other people were around at the time.”

Mr Munt’s three sisters, Gloria and Shirley Munt and Tricia Gealy, gasped when they heard how he tried vainly to climb out while dog Jess did her best to help.

Ms Jones said: “He can then be seen trying to get back up the bank. The dog returns and the dog is seen several times trying to pull Mr Munt’s collar and pull him out of the water. You see the dog coming back and forth and you don’t see Mr Munt coming out of the stream.”

The inquest in Reading heard that Mr Munt, of Frogmore Close, Slough, had gone to his best friend’s birthday party where he watched Chelsea play on TV on November 20 of last year.

A toxicology report found that he was more than three times over the legal drink drive limit.A post-mortem examination concluded he had died from drowning.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Ms Jones said: “I think because of the level of intoxication he was disorientated, he wasn’t thinking straight and he probably inhaled the water which made things significantly worse for the lungs.

“The water was two feet deep in the deepest part and then fell down to inches further up.”

Speaking of Jess’ actions to save him she added: “I could see Mr Munt was devoted to his dogs, we were all very touched watching the footage - there must have been a fantastic relationship.”

Jess is now being cared for by Mr Munt’s niece.

Gloria Munt added: “Jess meant the world to him and he only had her for three months. For the dog to go to the those extremes is incredible.”