A PENSIONER who was enjoying his 55th wedding anniversary suffered a fractured skull when he was blown over by a gust of wind, an inquest heard.

James Tattersall – known as Jim -  died within hours of the fall, which occurred during Storm Ali as he and his wife Ann strolled along Mostyn Street, Llandudno, on September 19.

They were  spending their emerald anniversary in the resort, which they both loved.

At the hearing in Ruthin, Joanne Lees, assistant coroner for North Wales East and Central, read a statement from Mrs Tattersall in which she said her 85-year-old husband, a retired engineer, had become a little more frail in recent months.

As they were walking towards the Ambassador Hotel a gust almost blew them over so they linked arms. 

Another strong gust then blew Mrs Tattersall over backwards while her husband was blown sideways, hitting his head on the pavement.

Two police officers who happened to be passing went to their assistance.

Mrs Tattersall injured her head and hip and was also taken to Glan Clwyd Hospital.

Her husband, whose head was bleeding, was unconscious and his condition deteriorated.

A CT scan showed he had fractured his skull and had a massive bleed on the brain, and he died the following day.

In her statement, Mrs Tattersall, of Rothesay Road, Brierfield, said her husband was a sociable character who sang in church and male voice choirs.

“We had 55 years of happiness together,” she said.

The coroner recorded a conclusion of accidental death.

Immediately after the incident, Mrs Tattersall, a mother of two, said the family had been going to Llandudno since their daughters were small .

“We loved walking around the town and along the promenade,” she said. “We were both having a lovely time to celebrate our 55th wedding anniversary.”

Mrs Tattersall thanked the emergency services, and passers-by, for coming to their aid, and hospital staff for looking after her late husband before his death.

She said: “The staff at Barclays Bank brought out a chair and some blankets, and two police officers managed to stem the blood from Jim’s head injury.

“I was told later that, if they hadn’t done that, he wouldn’t have made it to the hospital alive. But I’d especially like to thank from the bottom of my heart a farmer who was dressed in only trousers and a T-shirt, who sat with me and protected me from people who were staring.”

Mrs Tattersall added: “Jim always had something to say and we used to have long discussions about current affairs and so on. He was a very intelligent man.

“What I’ll miss is his jokes and companionship. We always had a laugh together.”