An inquest has opened into the death of a man whose body was pulled from a river more than a month after he went missing from work.
The body of Mark Scott, 55, was discovered in the River Irwell, in Bolton, on March 14.
Police coroner's officer Kathy Dixon told Rochdale Coroner's Court that Mr Scott, from Little Lever, had gone missing from his workplace in Radcliffe the previous month.
Ms Dixon said: "On February 5, Mark Scott attended his place of work in Radcliffe.
"Shortly after his arrival, he was seen to enter an outside area on to a fire escape.
"He was believed to have gone for a smoke.
"The fire escape sits beside the River Irwell."
Mr Scott was not seen again and his family reported him missing to Greater Manchester Police.
Police launched a search, and officers determined Mr Scott was likely to have fallen into the 'fast flowing' river.
More than a month later, a walker came across a body floating in the River Irwell in Bolton.
It was later identified as being that of Mr Scott, based on his dental records.
There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding Mr Scott's death, Ms Dixon said.
Coroner Michael Salt formally opened the inquest this morning (Tuesday, March 30).
He adjourned the hearing until September 16 when a full inquest is set to take place.
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