A family could only watch on in horror as their nephew drowned in his car after being swept away in a fast-flowing north-east river.
Michael Atkinson crossed the Burn of Boyne near Portsoy in his Mitsubishi 4×4 during flooding that hit the region last September.
Despite pleas from his relatives, the 23-year-old began driving through the water and his vehicle was swept away.
A huge rescue operation involving the emergency services, including the Coastguard, was launched and his body was recovered.
Now an inquest into Mr Atkinson’s death has ruled it was “misadventure” and he died as a result of fresh water drowning.
The hearing at the Lincoln Cathedral Centre heard his aunt, Emma Jane Atkinson, called 999 after she saw water pouring over the bonnet of the car.
In a statement read out at the inquest, coroner’s officer David Stocking said Mr Atkinson lived near her and had just been to see her when the incident occurred.
He said: “He lived on his own but came round to their address most days to drive his Mitsubishi 4×4.
“There is a ford that crosses a swollen river.
“The car was seen submerged under water. He was flown to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where he was pronounced dead.”
A police officer at the scene told the inquest that locals regularly travelled over the Burn of Boyne as there is no other way to get across and Mr Atkinson though his 4×4 was “capable” of making it to the other side.
He said: “He had decided to cross the river. He suggested the vehicle was capable of going through it. They tried to deter him.
“He was seen driving it over the crossing.
“As it entered the water it was seen by witnesses that the water went over the bonnet.
“The water carried it downstream. The vehicle then dropped below the water.
“Emma Jane returned to the house and called 999.”
Assistant coroner for Lincolnshire, Marianne Johnson, said: “He was watched by his aunt and uncle.
“His vehicle entered the water but it was at such a height that it carried it down stream.
“There were no suspicious circumstances.
“My conclusion is he died as a result of misadventure.”
