A university student who was found dead in Ginninderra Creek in 2010 was probably overcome by hypothermia after drinking and taking drugs at his employer's home, a court has found.
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But Alexander Henderson's family say they are devastated and are left with unanswered questions about his death.
The 19-year-old's partially-submerged body was discovered in the creek at Giralang on July 10, 2010. ACT Coroner Peter Dingwall handed down his findings into Mr Henderson's death yesterday, saying it was a ''terribly tragic and unfortunate'' event.
The court heard Mr Henderson had been drinking and had taken drugs at the home of his boss Joshua Gibbons, who had ownership in Octane café and two other coffee franchises in Civic.
But the young man was left barefoot outside Mr Gibbons' house after his bizarre behaviour upset the other man's family. The court heard Mr Henderson had probably started to walk home, slipped from a footbridge into the creek and had succumbed to hypothermia.
Mr Gibbons told police Mr Henderson had taken speed, which he had never seen him use before, and the young man's bizarre behaviour woke his wife and children at 2am.
They feared Mr Henderson and took the children to Mr Gibbons' parents' house to sleep, returning home in the morning to find the teen's body.
Police investigator Mark Rowswell told the court he spoke to Mr Gibbons at the scene and the man was distraught and kept asking what he could have done to help Mr Henderson.
He said Mr Gibbons appeared intoxicated during the conversation but had subsequently taken legal advice and declined to speak to police further.
Sergeant Rowswell told the court that during the investigation he spoke with several people who suggested Mr Gibbons had provided the teenager with drugs.
Mr Gibbons and his lawyer wife Jessica were called to give evidence at yesterday's inquest but both refused to answer any questions on the grounds that they might incriminate themselves. The court heard Mr Henderson was studying graphic design at the University of Canberra and worked part-time at Mr Gibbons' three coffee shops.
He was described as a good son and brother, a reliable employee and a sociable young man.
Sergeant Rowswell said Mr Henderson's friends said he drank regularly and had tried drugs such as ecstasy, cannabis and speed.
The court heard police found a silver teaspoon and bank card in the Gibbons' house which indicated Mr Henderson had stirred the drug speed into a glass of red wine.
Mr Dingwall said Mr Henderson had taken alcohol and drugs, the effects of which possibly led to him suffering hypothermia.
He recommended that the government install lights and fencing on the footbridge over Ginninderra Creek and offered his deepest sympathies to the family.
