Death of 92-year-old man from Blackburn was 'accidental' (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Death of 92-year-old man from Blackburn was 'accidental'

4:36pm Tuesday 23rd October 2012 in News

THE death of a 92-year-old who broke his neck at a Blackburn care home was accidental, an inquest has heard.

Frank Dinelly, who was a resident at Blakewater Lodge, in Swallow Drive, was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital in July this year after standing up from his chair and falling.

The impact of the fall caused a fracture in Mr Dinelly’s neck and he died several days later.

The former warehouse man was known to suffer from arthritis and the inquest heard that he may have forgotten about his mobility issues because of his suspected paranoia dementia.

Evidence was heard from Dr Richard Prescott, consultant pathologist at the Royal Blackburn Hospital, who said that a post mortem examination found that Mr Dinelly died from bronchopneumonia, which was most likely caused by his rib cage muscles being affected by the damage to his spinal cord and stopping him breathing properly.

Mr Dinelly was also suffering from ischemic heart disease and diabetes.

Coroner Michael Singleton said: “I am satisfied that on July 27 while in the lounge at Blakewater Lodge, Mr Dinelly fell and fractured his neck.

“He was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital but developed bronchopneumonia from which he died.

“I am quite satisfied that all of these events occurred as a consequence of that fall and I therefore conclude that this was an accidental death.”