A GRANDFATHER who had to have his leg amputated after a fall in the garden died due to complications, an inquest heard.

Paul Anthony Tierney was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital after family and friends urged him to seek help for an injury sustained to his leg while he had been out in the garden of his Darwen home.

The 65-year-old, who had suffered a gash to his leg in the fall, refused to go to the hospital but had been to see his GP who had prescribed him antibiotics.

But five weeks later an ambulance was called to his home as his leg, which had failed to heal, was worsening.

When he arrived at the hospital doctors diagnosed Mr Tierney with cellulitis and sent him for scans which revealed an abscess on his foot.

Doctors decided that the best course of action would be to amputate his leg from the knee down to prevent the spread of infection.

A statement from Dr Simon Hardy, read out at the inquest, said: “After the operation on March 16, he was recovering reasonably well.

"When I saw him the next morning he was settled and doing well.”

But several hours later, the retired truck driver had a heart attack in his hospital bed and died.

Recording a narrative conclusion, coroner James Newman said: “Mr Tierney had a history of complicated medical conditions including heart disease and was a diabetic.

“Following the fall, Paul was prescribed with antibiotics.

"He didn’t want to go to hospital – he didn’t want to trouble anyone else but eventually, five weeks after the fall, an ambulance was called.

“Despite therapy in the hospital, his condition did not improve, and he ultimately required a below-the-knee amputation.

“Post-operation he appeared well until he suffered a sudden cardiac event on March 17, which led to his death in the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

“Paul Anthony Tierney died as a result of a cardiac arrest on the back of significant physical stress of infection and below-the-knee amputation.”