Gran died after fall on anniversary of the death of her son

A GRANDMOTHER died in a tragic accident when she fell down the stairs on the anniversary of her own son’s death.

Yvonne Farleigh, 66, died after falling at her daughter’s home following an evening sharing memories about her son who died eight years before.

An inquest in Cardiff heard Ms Farleigh and daughter Helen Burnell “shared a few drinks” while telling their favourite stories about Ms Farleigh’s late son Mark on May 12 this year.

Helen, 45, said: “My brother passed away eight years ago. Mum would sometimes come and stay.

“It was the eighth anniversary of my brother’s death. We had a cuppa and a chat.

“At about 7pm I said to mum: ‘Did she fancy a bottle? A little bottle of Becks?’”

The inquest heard Yvonne moved onto vodka and Cokes before a neighbour came around and they started dancing in the kitchen.

Yvonne fell over and hit her head on a kitchen cupboard. Helen stayed the night on the sofa to keep an eye on her, the inquest heard.

Helen said: “At 8.40am I opened my eyes and looked over to where mum was sleeping. She wasn’t there.

“My eldest daughter was screaming ‘Mum, mum, it’s nan.’

“She was at the bottom of the stairs and there was quite a lot of blood.”

Emergency services arrived at the house in Ely, Cardiff, but Ms Farleigh was pronounced dead at 9.33am on May 13.

The inquest heard the grandmother died after fracturing her skull causing a bleed on the brain.

Her medical cause of death was a subdural and intraventricular hemorrhage on a subject under the influence of alcohol.

Consultant pathologist Dr Anurag Moshi said her injuries were compatible with a fall on the stairs.

He said: “She was on her back and her head was at the bottom of the stairs.”

The inquest heard the former barmaid and cleaner had 271mg of alcohol in her blood – the legal driving limit is 80mg.

Coroner Philip Spinney recorded a conclusion of accidental death.