Death by fall

An 84 year old died at the Conquest Hospital following a fall at home.

It caused a subdural haematoma, or blood clot, in his head.

An inquest was held this week at Hastings Law Court into the death of William Tinker who lived on his own in Ashdown Road.

Coroner Alan Craze said no-one could be sure exactly when the injury was sustained but was “convinced” Mr Tinker had fallen getting in or out of bed late night or early morning on Thursday January 13 before being found by his daily carer who arrived at 9.30am.

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He was unconscious on the bedroom floor and when paramedics arrived it was noted his chest sounded “bubbly” with fluid and that he had hypothermia.

Mr Tinker was taken by ambulance to hospital where he died from bronchial pneumonia caused by the injury.

His daughter Susan told the inquest she had spoken to him the day before he died and had worries about his health.

She had already discussed with him on the previous Saturday the possibility of moving to a nursing home, but Mr Tinker was described as “stubborn” and was likely already receiving “as much care and attention as he was prepared to accept” according to the coroner.

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“He was miserable”, Susan said of that telephone conversation.

“But he was always miserable.”

Mr Tinker had been separated from his wife since the mid 1980’s and was used to managing on his own.

He was a retired senior government mining engineer who spent many years working in Australia.

He had longterm health problems related to smoking and drinking but was last seen by his GP, Dr Roger Elias, in March 2010 to check on his heart condition.

Mr Craze recorded a verdict of accidental death.