Portsmouth grandfather died from injuries caused by fall in home, rules coroner

Raymond Trotter, 87, from Nicholson Gardens, Portsmouth, lived with COPD and dementia.

An inquest into his death noted that he suffered a number of falls, but one particular fall in February of that year left him with haemorrhages on the brain.

Mr Trotter died on June 24, 2019, with coroner Jason Pegg recording a medical death of sepsis, pneumonia and urinary tract infection, due to injuries caused by falls.

He said: ‘Mr Trotter seems to be a well-loved grandfather who had lived a fairly independent life.

‘With his deterioration he suffered fairly regular falls - the last, in February 2019, was far more severe.

‘My conclusion is one of accidental death. But for the fall, Mr Trotter would not have died when he did.’

After his fall, Mr Trotter was taken to Southampton General Hospital and subsequently Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham.

He was then discharged to Cosham Court nursing home, where he died.

The court heard a statement from granddaughter Saffron Tudgay, which said Mr Trotter admitted to her that he ‘no longer wanted to live any more’ as his condition got worse.

The statement also said: ‘My grandfather was very chatty and sociable – and enjoyed spending time with others.

‘But his condition started to deteriorate in 2017, he found it difficult to walk and would use a motorised scooter.

‘He suffered from a number of falls; they made him confused and distressed.’