A WALKHAMPTON man who drowned at Burrator Reservoir in August was described as a hard worker by his former employer, an inquest in Okehampton heard. Philip Trevor Eden, 56, had worked as a cleaner at the food factory Hilliers in Plymouth, but lost his job along with the rest of the workforce when the factory was gutted by a huge fire three weeks before his death. The inquest last Wednesday heard how on the morning of August 4, a couple visiting Burrator Reservoir spotted what appeared to be a body floating to the left side of the reservoir. Police arrived at the scene at 11.45am and confirmed the body of a man aged between 55 and 65, was floating in the reservoir at a point where the water was about six foot deep. Due to the sheer drop to the water it was impossible to reach the body without a boat. The body was recovered by members of the coastguard and police officers. A post-mortem examination carried out by Dr Nicholas Ward at North Devon Hospital found the cause of death was consistent with drowning. There were no drugs or alcohol found in the deceased?s bloodstream and no note was found. The coroner read out a statement from Yvonne Davies, formerly general manager at the Hilliers factory, who said Mr Eden telephoned her the day before he died:?He asked if the business would be restarting and if we would consider employing him again? ?I said we certainly would because he was a good grafter and he had many years? experience. He told me he felt pretty low and lost because he had worked for the company for many years.? Mrs Davies said she did not get the impression the ?situation was dire? , and Mr Eden had asked if he could phone her each week to hear what progress was being made towards rebuilding the company. Coroner Elizabeth Earland said there was insufficient evidence to record anything other than an open verdict. Dr Earland extended her condolences to Mr Eden?s family for their loss.