Bathroom fall led to Durrington man’s death

Albert Wilson, 88, of Ivydore Close, Durrington, died on April 21 in Worthing Hospital, four days after suffering multiple rib fractures, a vertebral fracture and a collapsed lung from a fall.

The inquest into Mr Wilson’s death took place in Centenary House, Durrington, yesterday.

Assistant coroner for West Sussex Elisabeth Bussey-Jones returned a verdict of accidental death.

A statement read out by coroner’s assistant Lyn Ralfe told how Mr Wilson had mobility issues and suffered from pernicious anaemia, diabetes and heart disease.

Mr Wilson was under five feet tall and had lived alone since the death of his wife six-and-a-half years ago.

Following Mr Wilson’s death his family visited his home and found a board across the top of the bath with two more on top of bar stools on their sides.

Mrs Ralfe said: “They found these melamine boards moved easily, they were unstable and slid both ways, side to side and front to back.”

The inquest heard how a friend of Mr Wilson’s had questioned his decision to paint the bathroom but an independent Mr Wilson assured him he had thought it through.

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