Pensioner died after fall down stairs

A pensioner died after tripping over her cat, an inquest this week heard.

Sarah Hadley, 69, of Spring Lane, Bexhill, fell down the stairs in her home on August 20 last year and was discovered by concerned neighbours.

Jennifer King, also of Spring Lane, said: "I knew Sarah for more than two years and we were good friends.

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"On the day we found her we could hear groaning and we went over to see what was wrong.

"We opened the front door and found her lying on the floor between the bedroom and lounge.

"Sarah was semi-conscious but unable to speak."

The retired administration officer, who worked for the NHS, was rushed to the Conquest Hospital.

Coroner Alan Craze said it was 'obvious' that the pensioner had fallen down the stairs. He said medical notes had recorded her as saying she had tripped over her cat, which she had recently got.

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Her son Richard, who lives in Glossop, Derbyshire, said his mother was in the Conquest for more than five weeks and was coherent the day after the fall.

But her health deteriorated and she died on October 31 last year.

Pathologist Ian Hawley, who carried out a post-mortem examination, said Mrs Hadley, who was divorced, died of pneumonia and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after being immobile for weeks following her fall.

Mr Craze recorded a verdict of accidental death.

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