Pub landlady died after falling down stairs, inquest told

A LANDLADY died after falling down the stairs at the pub she ran with her husband, an inquest has heard.

Judith Ramsden was discovered by her husband, Philip, lying motionless at the bottom of a set of stairs at the Gate House pub in Monnow Street, Monmouth, in the early hours of February 9, 2019.

The ambulance service was called but paramedics declared the 56-year-old deceased at the scene.

An inquest into Mrs Ramsden’s death was held at Gwent Coroner’s Court, Newport, yesterday.

Senior coroner Caroline Saunders summarised evidence given in a statement by Mrs Ramsden’s widower.

Mr Ramsden said he and his wife had been married since 1995 and ran The Gate House pub together for several years.

The day before her death, Mr Ramsden said, his wife went out shopping for stock for the Sunday lunch.

Mr Ramsden said he and his wife drank about three bottles of wine that evening in the bar, before closing the pub at about 12.30pm.

“Closing time varies,” he said. “We have a licence to 1.30am but generally we close at midnight.”

After they finished their drinks, Mr Ramsden said, his wife went upstairs. Later on, he discovered her lying at the base of a set of stairs.

Ms Saunders said a paramedic was called to the scene and arrived at about 4.10am on February 9.

She said Mrs Ramsden was declared deceased at the scene at 4.32am the same day.

Ms Saunders summarised the results of a post-mortem examination – which showed Mrs Ramsden had fractured her vertebrae. She added the injuries were consistent with a “backwards bending of the neck” which would have occurred during the fall.

A toxicology examination also found Mrs Ramsden had a blood-alcohol concentration approximately one and a half times the drink-drive limit.

Summing up the evidence in the case, Ms Saunders said: “There was nothing unusual about the events of that evening but Judith was drinking throughout the evening.”

Ms Saunders said the reason for Mrs Ramsden’s fall was “unclear” but said Gwent Police officers had given evidence saying there were no suspicious circumstances or third-party involvement in her death.

Ms Saunders recorded a conclusion of accidental death.