Inquest is told how woman died after falling down stairs
ATEACHING assistant died after falling down the stairs on her way to bed.
Jill Brundrett, 57, is thought to have lost her balance and fallen backwards.
She banged her head on the tiled hallway floor and went to bed, where she was found later that evening by her partner, who had been out to their local in Royton.
Ms Brundrett was taken to Salford Royal Hospital where it was discovered she had suffered major trauma to the skull.
She underwent an emergency operation, but despite medical intervention she died five days later.
An inquest in Heywood was told the tragedy occurred on November 14 last year after Ms Brundrett, who taught high school children, had returned from work and cooked dinner for daughter Helen Perkin, 23 and Helen’s boyfriend.
The couple went to bed but Ms Brundrett stayed up and had some wine.
Accountant Jonathan Perkin, 65, Jill’s partner of 31 years, told the hearing: “Jill had been diagnosed with high blood pressure but had no other health problems.
“She wasn’t a person who drunk an excessive amount of alcohol, just a glass of wine with soda usually.
“On the 14th of November she went to work as normal and usually arrived home about 3.30pm, she was her usual self.
“I was out and returned home about 11 or 11.30pm and as I arrived home I could see the bedroom light on. I noticed a hot water bottle on the floor and a glass that had been smashed to pieces. I also saw a pool of blood in the hallway near to the stairs.
“I found Jill in bed underneath the covers and she was bleeding from her ear.
“She was covered in blood but she said that all she wanted to do was sleep – she seemed drowsy.
“I woke up Andrew, my daughter’s boyfriend who is first aid trained and he told me to phone an ambulance. When we arrived at the hospital they told us that Jill has bleeding under the skull. She underwent surgery but shortly deteriorated and passed away.”
In a statement read to the court, Ms Brundrett’s daughter Helen Perkin said: “At about 9.30pm myself and my partner Andrew went up to bed leaving mum where she had been.
“I didn’t hear anything. It was only when my dad came into the room that we realised something was wrong.”
Recording a conclusion of accidental death, Coroner Michael Salt said: “There may be questions I will never have the answers to. By some means of going to bed she has lost her balance and fallen backwards down stairs and banged her head.
“She was able to pick herself up and get to bed and on the return of her partner, he had cause for concern.
“Immediately the family called for medical assistance. Sadly, the injuries were too severe for recovery to be made and she has passed away at Salford Royal Hospital. The evidence suggest she might have had something to drink which did not help but people fall without anything to drink so that is not necessarily a factor here.”