A 25-year-old English tourist found dead in a Queenstown alleyway had a blood alcohol level of 234mg - almost three times the legal limit.
Southern region Coroner David Crerar yesterday adjourned the inquest into the death of James Patrick Smith, snowboard instructor, of Bromley, England, until he had made further contact with Mr Smith's family.
Dr Dempster, at Southland Hospital, found Mr Smith's death was due to "severe closed head injury with extensive skull fractures and multiple cerebral lacerations" and laceration of the right atrium with the right hemothorax.
Mr Smith arrived in Queenstown with his friend, James Boyce, on May 31. On June 4 the pair met friends at a hostel, where they sat in the kitchen and played "drinking games" for about 90 minutes.
"James and I were drinking vodka and lemonade. James had previously purchased a one litre bottle of vodka . . . I estimate that we both consumed about a third of a litre each before going out on the town," Mr Boyce said.
The pair, who were with another two associates, then headed to Altitude Bar on Shotover St, arriving at 10.12pm.
While CCTV footage showed Mr Smith "at various locations within the bar and at the bar, buying drinks and consuming them", Mr Boyce said he and his friend consumed "one beer", before another round of beers was purchased.
He described Mr Smith's level of intoxication as a "six" - with 10 being extreme intoxication.
"When we were walking to the bar he was stumbling a bit and we had a bit of a laugh about it."
CCTV footage showed Mr Smith leaving the bar at 10.46pm, after being asked to leave by the bouncer, Robert Autagavaia.
The footage shows him entering an alleyway next to the bar a minute later, before disappearing from view.
Mr Boyce said a short time later the remaining three men left Altitude and "had a look around for James but could not locate him".
At 10.56 Mr Boyce sent Mr Smith a text message informing him of the group's whereabouts.
At 2am Mr Boyce decided to get food and return to his hostel, on Lake Esplanade.
"I walked back to the hostel, went into the room and looked for James. He wasn't there.
"I phoned his cellphone . . . I recall a member of [the] police answered his phone."
Acting Sergeant Tracy Haggart said after Mr Smith went down the alleyway he was not seen or heard from again, until about 1.55am when a resident at Discover Lodge, above Altitude, opened a window above the alleyway and saw "the outline of a person on the ground below".
After calling out and getting no response, the resident went into the alleyway and found Mr Smith, with "blood coming from his head".
Sgt Haggart said after a comprehensive scene examination, which uncovered "finger gripping" marks in guttering on the edge of the roof - 9.6m above ground level - footprints and scuff marks, police believed Mr Smith went to the rear of the alleyway and climbed the fire escape to the top floor before attempting to climb on to the roof and falling to his death.
"The deceased's blood alcohol level was extremely high and I consider that his level of intoxication would have had a dramatic effect on his co-ordination and further, that his ability to make sensible and sound decisions would have been greatly impaired," she said.
