A SIDE effect of surgery caused the death of retired smallholding farmer Helen Parker at the age of 92.

An inquest heard that Mrs Parker, who was blind, suffered a fall at her Haslingden home as she went to unbolt the back door to let her daughter in.

She underwent surgery on a fractured hip the following day but a sharp increase in the flat levels in her blood caused pulmonary embolism which killed her.

The inquest heard that Mrs Parker lived in Hud Hey Road, Haslingden, with her daughter Ann.

Miss Parker said that despite being blind her mother was able to get around the house and coped very well. She wasn't frail, was a good sleeper and ate well.

On the morning of the fall, Miss Parker had gone to the shops and her mum had bolted the back door behind her.

When she returned Miss Parker heard her daughter in the back yard and was moving towards the back door when she fell.

"I don't know what happened but she ended up on the floor," said Miss Parker. A neighbour's friend forced the back door and Mrs Parker was taken to hospital where surgeons operated the following day.

Miss Parker told how she was called back to the hospital urgently and doctors told her what had happened and how they had to resuscitate Mrs Parker on two occasions.

"I said if it happened again to let her go in peace," said Miss Parker.

Deputy coroner Carolyn Singleton recorded a verdict of accidental death.