OAP’s wind-gust fall led to accidental death

A PENSIONER suffered a fractured skull when he was blown over by a gust of wind while walking arm in arm with his wife on their wedding anniversary.

James Tattersall – known as Jim – died within hours of the fall, which occurred during Storm Ali as he and his wife, Anne, strolled along Mostyn Street, Llandudno, on September 19 last year.

The couple, from Nelson, Lancashire, were celebrating their 55th anniversary at the resort, an inquest heard.

At the hearing in Ruthin, Joanne Lees, assistant coroner for North Wales East and Central, read a statement from Mrs Tattersall in which she said her 85-year-old husband, a retired engineer, had become a little more frail in recent months.

As they were walking towards the Ambassador Hotel a gust almost blew them over so they linked arms. Another strong gust then blew her over backwards, while her husband was blown sideways, hitting his head on the pavement.

Two police officers went to their assistance.

Mrs Tattersall injured her head and hip and was also taken to Glan Clwyd Hospital.

Her husband was unconscious and his condition deteriorated.

A CT scan showed he had fractured his skull and had a massive bleed on the brain, and he died the following day.

The coroner recorded a conclusion of accidental death.