Paul Barron-Snooks, 29, had been on the phone to his mother minutes before he went into water near his home.
Paul who known to friends a PJ, was described as “the biggest kid” and “one of a kind” by his family, was not thought to be in trouble when passers-by saw him in the water.
But within an hour Paul was spotted floating face down and could not be revived when he was pulled out by emergency services.
An inquest into how he died heard that Paul was known to suffer “psychological symptoms and seizure episodes which were possibly drug related.”
Coroner David Regan said that on the day of his death on April 11 last year Paul had phone his mother at around 5pm.
He said: “His speech was slurred and he stated that he had taken cocaine and was walking to the waterfront, in a manner which did not cause her concern for his safety.
“He was later seen in the water off Ffordd y Miliiwm, Barry but was not thought to be in difficulty or distress.
“At about 17.55 on 11th April 2025 he seen floating face down and unresponsive.
“Police and the Fire Service responded and he was recovered to the bank. Paramedics were unable to resuscitate him.
“Post mortem examination confirmed that he had consumed cocaine but was unable to determine whether his death was caused by cocaine use, seizure or immersion in water.
“It is not known what caused Mr Barron-Snooks to come to be in the water.”
Mr Regan returned an open verdict at Pontypridd Coroner’s Court.
In a tribute at the time of his death, Paul’s pregnant girlfriend Rebecca Mears 30 said: “Pjay was my whole world and more, he was the biggest kid I had ever known.
“Pjay always was so loving, caring and compassionate especially to those he loved the most, he would never fail to tell me he loved me or how much he cared for me he always made sure I knew as I did with him also.
“I miss you so much my handsome, life isn’t the same without you, but I will do you proud I promise you.
“Thank you for showing us so many new adventures and creating so many memories with us in such a short space of time being together you truly were one in a million.
