Pensioner died from bleed on brain after falls

A PENSIONER died from a ‘traumatic’ bleed on the brain a week after suffering three falls at home, an inquest heard.

Margaret Francis, 83, had complained of a ‘bad headache’ on November 9 last year before being sick and falling unconscious.

Her husband of 62 years, Harry, found her ‘slumped in the chair’ at their home on Rookery Nook Villas, Bacup, and called his niece Diane Harris and paramedics for help.

Preston Coroners Court heard that Mrs Francis had a Glasgow Coma Scale reading of three – the lowest score - and a CT scan showed a bleed on the brain.

Dr Georgina Cochrane, a physician at Royal Blackburn Hospital, said the injury was ‘identified as potentially unsurvivable’ and she was placed on end of life care.

Mrs Francis, a retired sewing machinist, never regained consciousness and passed away on November 13.

A post-mortem examination found the cause of death was a traumatic bleed on the brain and contributing was a stroke, a heart condition and chronic kidney disease.

The inquest heard that a week before her death Mrs Francis suffered three falls, including some while getting out of bed.

Assistant Coroner Simon Jones said Mr Francis ‘doesn’t think that she hit her head or suffered any trauma’ and that an ambulance was called the first time but cancelled before it arrived as she had been returned to bed.

Recording a conclusion of accidental death, Mr Jones said: “What’s clear is that she suffered a traumatic injury during one of the falls she sustained in the week prior to her admission to hospital.

“Although she may not have struck her head she has sustained trauma with sufficient force to cause a bleed on the surface of the brain.”