Man, 70, dies after falling from second floor window of sheltered accommodation flats

Jun 9 2010 by Lorna Hughes, Heswall News

A PENSIONER died after falling from a second floor window in his sheltered accommodation.

Donald Carter, 70, was found “unresponsive and groaning” in the courtyard of Alpha Court on Leasowe Road, Wallasey just after 10am on Saturday, February 6.

He was taken to Arrowe Park Hospital but his condition deteriorated and he died two hours later.

An inquest at Wallasey Town Hall yesterday heard Mr Carter had a habit of opening windows to lower temperatures in the flats.

There were no witnesses to the fall or CCTV footage and police found no evidence that anyone else was involved.

Coroner’s officer Arthur Flower said: “The son of another resident was on his way to visit his mother when, as he was walking along an internal corridor, he glanced out of a window and saw what appeared to be a body lying on the concrete in the courtyard outside.

“He ran downstairs and found the deceased lying on the ground on his right side. He was unresponsive and groaning and bleeding from a head wound.

“He would appear to have fallen approximately 25 to 30ft from a second floor window.”

A post mortem found the retired shipbuilder’s fitter, who was divorced from wife Jennifer, died from multiple injuries consistent with a fall.

Mr Flower said: “It is known the deceased had a habit of opening the windows on a regular basis due to the heat in the premises.”

Wirral Coroner Christopher Johnson recorded a narrative verdict that Mr Carter died from the injuries he sustained in a fall from the second floor window of the building where he lived.