A TEENAGER found hanging from a tree 'probably died as the result of a schoolboy adventure gone wrong,' Wirral's coroner concluded at the inquest into the youngster's death.

Coroner Christopher Johnson was told that 15-year-old Stephen Russell was a happy and well-loved boy and there was no evidence to suggest that he had tried to kill himself.

The body of the Rock Ferry High schoolboy was discovered hanging from electrical cable by a man walking his dog along the River Birket cycle path in Moreton last January.

The previous night, Stephen had been expected to return home to his grandparents' house in Moreton, but he never arrived.

Stephen, whose parents were divorced, divided his time between his mother's home in Shenley Close, Bebington, and his paternal grandparents' home in Town Meadow Lane, Moreton.

When the youngster left his grandparents' house at 6.45pm on Sunday, January 25, he told his grandfather, Frank Russell, that he was going to visit a friend and would return later.

When he had failed to return by 10pm, his grandfather alerted Stephen's mother and father and went searching for him.

No trace could be found of Stephen, and the family reported his disappearance to police at 2.15am.

He was discovered the next day at 8.15am when a dog walker saw what he thought was a mannequin hanging from a tree.

The man, who did not have a mobile telephone, walked along the path to find a phone box and alerted emergency services.

As he walked to the call box he came across Stephen's grandfather, who had resumed the search for his grandson. He told him he had discovered a boy hanging from a tree.

Stephen's father Ian Russell and his uncle Andrew Russell, who had also been searching along the path, then joined their father at the scene and dialled 999.

Detective Inspector Bernard McAdam told the court that when he arrived on the scene Stephen was hanging from the tree wearing a pair of shorts.

His clothes were later discovered nearby along with a bottle of white spirit, candles, a can of spray deodorant and a piece of sandpaper.

The post mortem revealed that there were no traces of drugs or alcohol in Stephen's blood.

Mr McAdam said that there were no suspicious circumstances or evidence of third-party involvement.

The inquest heard that Stephen was an avid football fan who supported Tranmere Rovers and that he was looking forward to the FA Cup fifth round draw that was taking place on the day his body was discovered. Mr McAdam said Stephen suffered from Attention Deficit Hyper-activity Disorder (ADHD) and had been prescribed Ritalin. A statement from Stephen's mother Megan Amey said Stephen often climbed trees in a fearless manner.

Coroner Johnson summed up saying: "It seems to me a possibility, and perhaps the most likely conclusion, that what occurred was a schoolboy adventure that went tragically wrong and resulted in Stephen losing his life."

He said although he did not believe Stephen had intended to harm himself there were elements of the death that were inexplicable.

An open verdict was recorded.