An inquest heard on Monday how dementia sufferer Brian Krengal (79) had left his home in Elm Grove to go for a walk the night before his body was found at the foot of cliffs in ‘Bay.

Coroner Michael Oakley recorded an open verdict at the inquest, held at Scarborough County Court, as it is not known whether Mr Krengel jumped or fell from the cliff.

It heard that Mr Krengel first started having problems with his memory in 2001 when he visited his doctor.

Since then his state deteriorated and he was diagnosed with dementia in 2007.

Police Constable Simon Jolly from Whitby Police was involved with the search for Mr Krengel.

He told the inquest: “Mr Krengel’s wife Dorothy reported the disappearance and I went to see her at her house.

“She said at around 5pm on 27 October she was asleep on her sofa and awoke to find her husband gone, the front door open and his walking boots gone.

“But this was not out of the ordinary as he was a keen rambler and she assumed he would turn up later.

“By the following morning he was still not back.

“That was when she called the police.”

A search by Whitby, Humber and Ravenscar coastguards and RAF Sea King helicopter was carried out.

PC Jolly continued: “He did enjoy rambling towards the moorlands and clifftops so the search was mainly around that area.

“The clifftop was about half a mile to a mile away from where he lived.”

His body was found at the foot of cliffs at Robin Hood’s Bay and he was flown to Scarborough Hospital where he was pronouced dead.

Mr Jolly said Mr Krengel had never suggested to his wife that he would take his own life.

Mr Oakley said: “There is no evidence to suggest that he would take his own life.

“He was not being treated for any mental illnesses at that time apart from the dementia.

“It is conceivable that he has deliberately thrown himself off the cliffs above where he was found but, as he was in these stages of dementia, it is equally as likely that he could have fallen accidentally.

“The evidence is not clear so I am recording an open verdict.”