Martin Hill, 74, fell over the second floor banister
An elderly man has died after falling over a bannister at a Welsh pub. Martin Hill, 74, toppled over a bannister at The Midland in Wrexham earlier this month. A coroner today opened an inquest into the death of the 74-year-old, also saying that the owner of the pub has already taken action to tighten up safety at the establishment.
The hearing in Ruthin was told retired labourer Mr Hill, of Sylvester Court, Wrexham, had been at the pub on High Street, Wrexham on Monday, December 8.
John Gittins, Coroner for North West East and Central, said North Wales Police were notified by the ambulance service about the incident shortly before 6pm that evening. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here.
Officers went to The Midland where it was believed that a man had fallen over a banister on the second floor, North Wales Live reports.
An ambulance was called and Mr Hill was placed in the back of an ambulance for further treatment. However, he passed away soon afterwards.
Police investigated on behalf of the coroner. Today (Monday, December 22) the coroner said CCTV footage seems to show that Mr Hill had gone up to the toilet on the second floor and was returning when he fell over a banister.
“He had gone to the toilet and was on his way back down when the fall occurred,” said the coroner. A pathologist Dr Mark Atkinson carried out a post mortem examination.
The coroner said “some damage” and injuries had occurred but Dr Atkinson was deferring his proposed, provisional cause of death until he has received more information including toxicity results.
Coroner Mr Gittins said he was concerned about preventing future deaths so contacted the owner of the premises particularly as it was in the run up to the festive period.
Mr Gittins said he has also been in contact with the health and safety department of the local authority. Mr Gittins said the owner has reassured him about the steps which were “already in hand” and which had now been taken.
“The stairwell has been boxed in”, said Mr Gittins, who added: “I make no criticism of the owner that I should seek those reassurances. It is to his credit that such action has been taken.”
Mr Gittins said as there was evidence of an unnatural cause of death he was opening and adjourning the inquest until next year.
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