A pensioner drowned in a few feet of water on the first day of his holiday in Dubai, an inquest heard yesterday.

Paul Childs, 72, of Doveleat, Chinnor, flew to the United Arab Emirates with his brother, Dr David Childs, on November 2.

Shortly after arriving, the former citizen's advice bureau adviser accompanied Dr Childs and his son to nearby Jumeira beach.

Dr Childs and his son went into the water up to their chests but Paul, who was described as a competent swimmer, sat in shallow water 20m from the shore.

"We noticed a commotion and when we went to investigate we discovered that it was Paul," Dr Childs told Oxford Coroner's Court.

"He had been taken from the water and a South African man was giving him cardiac massage. He had simply been found floating in shallow water."

Pathologist Dr David Davies said the post-mortem examination had been complicated by the fact that the body had been embalmed before being flown back to Britain.

He said Mr Childs possibly fainted or lost consciousness. If it had happened on dry land, he might have been saved. In the sea, he took water into his lungs and drowned.

Coroner Nicholas Gardiner recorded a verdict of accidental death.