A freelance photographer captured a sea search off Mumbles near Swansea for news reports, unaware rescuers were looking for his son, an inquest heard.
Postman Rory Ryan's body was recovered from the sea on 11 August, 2002. Drugs and alcohol were found in his system.
His father Carl left with rescue footage, but did not discover for several hours his own son had died.
The inquest heard Mr Ryan, a former police officer, was highly critical of the investigation into his son's death.
Fitness fanatic Rory Ryan, 30, had been on a drinking binge and a number of drugs were found in his system.
The inquest in Swansea heard he had been out with friends at clubs in Swansea on the night of Saturday 10 August.
They had continued drinking throughout the night and around lunchtime on Sunday he and another man, Gareth Isherwood, went to pubs in Mumbles. .........................
