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A man wept at an inquest as he recalled being unable to save his friend who drowned after falling off an Amsterdam party boat.
Wind farm rigger Neil Stewart, 30, from Newcastle, fell into the North Sea Canal in November 2017. His body was recovered the following month.
An inquest in Newcastle was told how the father-of-two's fiancee Chelsea Dixon surprised him by arranging the weekend away, which involved flights, a hotel and a Saturday night at the BTID (Bounce Til I Die) dance event on a boat.
Mr Stewart's friend and colleague Paul Armes was also on the boat, and told the inquest he realised someone was in the water when the vessel stopped.
Mr Stewart's fiancee Chelsea Dixon told the hearing they had met friends who had just got engaged and had drinks together during the day
He said someone else told him Mr Stewart had climbed three steps before jumping in.
Mr Armes told the inquest he had first aid and water rescue qualifications and wanted to swim across to his friend in the water with a life belt.
He wept as he told the inquest: 'I just wanted to help
