No third-party involved in drowning, inquest told

No evidence of third-party involvement in a man's drowning after a night out has been found, an inquest was told.

Luis Piovesana, 26, who had lived in Bristol since 2024, went missing after a night out in the city in February 2025. His body was found by police divers in the River Frome three days later.

Before his disappearance he had left a "distressed" voicemail to his girlfriend in which he claimed a taxi driver was "trying to kidnap him". He had also called 999, telling the operator he had been drugged and was on the M32 motorway, the court was told.

But an inquest into his death on Thursday found no suggestion of third-party involvement in his death.

Originally from Birmingham, Piovesana had been on a night out at the Jam Jar music venue in St Anne's where he had consumed magic mushrooms and alcohol.

Friends said that Piovesana had taken magic mushrooms previously, without ill effect.

Piovesana's family attended the inquest and read out a statement where they described his "strong, close relationship with his family including an extensive extended family".

"He also had large friendship groups in both Bristol and Birmingham," they added.

"At his funeral, over 500 people attended – a testament to the deep connections he had built."

The family had last seen Luis three weeks before his death at his sister's graduation ceremony.

"Luis Piovesana died following immersion in water after entering the River Frome in Bristol some time between February 28 and March 3 2025," said Dr Peter Harrowing, area coroner for Avon.

"How he came to the water has not been established," he added.

Police later pieced together 12 minutes of CCTV footage that showed some of Piovesana's movements.

Det Insp Peter Walker, from Avon and Somerset Police, told the inquest that Piovesana's movements appeared "erratic" and said it was "clear that Luis was intoxicated" from the footage.

The last sighting confirmed by the footage was at 03:24 GMT and showed Piovesana approximately 450 metres (1,476 ft) away from sluice gates for the River Frome, where his body was later found.

Walker said the footage showed "nobody else about" and that any third party involvement in Piovesana's death had been ruled out.

The inquest at Avon Coroner's Court was told that Piovesana had become agitated during the night out and his friends arranged him a taxi home at 02:55.

At 02:59, he rang his girlfriend and left a "distressed" voicemail in which he said the taxi driver was "trying to kidnap him", his family statement said.

He also rang police at 03:03 where he said that he had been drugged and was on the motorway.

At the same time, a motorist reported a pedestrian walking on one of the motorway lanes.

Police officers attended at 03:19 but could not locate him.

His phone and wallet were later found in the area by friends using a tracking app.

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