A father-of-eight drowned when he swam in a country park pond with his best friend, an inquest has heard.
Dad David Lerwill, 33, whose children are aged between two and 14, stripped down to his underwear to climb into the “freezing cold” water.
But the inquest heard he started shouting: “Someone help me.”
Friend Paul Davies said the pair had been drinking together – and his friend had been swimming in the pond for up to 20 minutes before disaster struck.
He said Mr Lerwill, a carpenter, was about 15 to 20 metres into the pond when he began shouting for help.
Mr Davies said: “I went into the water. The water was freezing cold.
“I tried going in as far as I could but could no longer see him.”
Mr Davies, his son and Mr Lerwill were socialising at Pen y Fan Pond, near Blackwood, on the afternoon of March 26.
The inquest in Newport heard how passer-by Emma Padfield saw Mr Lerwill get in the water as his two friends sat on the pier “encouraging him.”
She said: “He started shouting ‘boys’ and seemed panic stricken.
“One of the other boys went in the water and turned back.”
The inquest in Newport heard Mr Lerwill, of Caerphilly, disappeared under the water and emergency services arrived at 7pm.
His body was finally pulled from the water the next day. Toxicology reports showed Mr Lerwill’s alcohol levels were just below the legal driving limit.
His medical cause of death was drowning.
Senior coroner Caroline Saunders said David went for an “impromptu alcohol-fuelled” swim in the pond.
She added: “David started to get into trouble. It is not clear why.”
The coroner recorded a conclusion of misadventure.
After his death, sister Lisa Lerwill said: “David tragically had to leave behind his eight beautiful children who treasured and worshipped him and loved him so dearly.”
David leaves behind eight children: James, Rhys, Kaitlyn, Jack, Ryan, Kai, Correy-Jay and Mikey-Jay.
His sister Lisa said: “They no longer have their dad to support them. He would always do absolutely everything he could for them – he loved them all so much, he lived for his children. He was an amazing dad who was always there for all of them.
“David was definitely one of a kind, he had a heart of gold and would do anything for anyone, especially his family – he was definitely a family man.”
The family also called for more warning signs at the pond.
Lisa said: “I really can’t stress enough about how there are no warning signs around the pond to indicate danger or deep water, or the fact there is a sudden drop and a drainage system under the pond.”