Wirral pensioner died after slipping on ice in garden

Jan 20 2010 by Matt Hurst, Heswall News

A FORMER environmental health officer died after slipping on ice and striking his head on his garden wall, an inquest heard.

Brian Young, 70 was taking his dog for a walk around the garden of his home on Tuesday, January 5, the day the heaviest slurries of snow fell on Wirral.

At an inquest at Wallasey Town Hall on Thursday, coroner’s officer, Donald Johnston said: “The deceased was in the garden at home, between 8.30am and 9am, walking his dog when, unwitnessed, he slipped and fell on the ice, striking his head on the garden wall.

“Following the fall, he felt unsteady on his feet and went to bed.

“Some time later, he went to the toilet, where he vomited and collapsed.”

Mr Young, who lived on Waterpark Road in Prenton and was married with two sons, remained unresponsive as ambulance crews arrived.

While travelling to Arrowe Park Hospital, he endured two seizures, each lasting for 30 seconds.

Upon arrival, a CT scan revealed he suffered subdural hematoma, or a blood clot on the brain caused by a traumatic incident.

Following discussion with Liverpool’s Walton Centre, his prognosis for recovery was described as “very poor”.

He received palliative care until his death, later the same day.

No post-mortem was carried out after coroner Christopher Johnson spoke with Arrowe Park A&E consultant, Dr Anthony Good.

Christopher Johnson said: “A very poor prognosis was indicated, it was not survivable.

“I was able, in the circumstances, to accept Dr Good’s opinion that the cause of death was 1a subdural hematoma due to 1b, fall.”

Mr Young’s son, Simon told the News: “He was an old Rock Ferrian, he was born in Rock Ferry and lived and worked there his whole life.”

A keen dog obedience instructor, Simon said his father had maintained an active life and was heavily involved in efforts to secure funding and homes for Vietnamese boat people in the late 1970s.