A FORMER soldier who suffered a chronic brain injury after falling out of a moving taxi three-and-a-half years earlier died after developing blood clots on his lungs, an inquest heard.

The family of Lee Stockdale were concerned the clots may have resulted from a testicular injury he was suffering from or the fact one of his arms was mostly immobile, Burnley Coroner’s Court was told.

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But medical experts were convinced the pulmonary embolism which killed the ex-Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment trooper had probably developed in his legs originally.

Mr Stockdale became a paraplegic after a road traffic incident, when he fell from a moving taxi in Colne Road, Kelbrook, in the early hours of April 20, 2013, the court heard.

Police accident investigator, PC Richard Harrison, said it appeared there had been a violent argument between three men in the taxi, and the driver, before the fall.

The vehicle had been en-route from Burnley to Barnoldswick but the taxi had been turned around shortly before the fall.

PC Harrison said the taxi door was defective but this fault would have made it more difficult to open.

The 32-year-old, formerly of Lower East Avenue, Barnoldswick, required 24-hour care as a result and had been living with his brother Luke in Giggleswick, near Settle.

His brother, who looked after him with the support of other carers, described Lee as a 'laugher and a joker'.

The fall had left him with virtually no movement in his legs and a weakened arm. He also suffered from epilepsy.

The inquest heard that in August last year he was taken to Airedale Hospital and was diagnosed with pneumonia.

He made a recovery but was still deemed not fit enough to undergo a testicular operation just under a week later.

But on August 24 he complained of chest pains, diarrhoea and vomiting, at home and his condition quickly deteriorated.

An attempt was made to resuscitate him but he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

Dr Daniel Scott, a pathologist at Harrogate Hospital, said he had found 'significant large blood clots' in Lee’s lungs, which were 'invariably fatal'.

Jasmine Skander, a solicitor representing the family, questioned Dr Raj Rao, Lee’s consultant, whether the possibility of him suffering from DVT had been explored, during his earlier hospital attendances.

Dr Rao said: “He didn’t present with any symptoms for me to think that was a possibility.”

Dr Rao and Dr Scott also told the inquest it was considered 'highly unlikely', given the size of the clots which were responsible for Lee’s death, that they had developed in his testes or arms.

Recording a road traffic collision conclusion, East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor said that on balance the chronic injuries suffered in 2013 had contributed to the development of Lee’s fatal blood clots.