Mystery over former soldier Robert Gordon's fatal fall

The family of a former soldier who died after falling from a Black Country block of flats will never know the circumstances surrounding his death after an open verdict was recorded at an inquest.

Robert Gordon, aged 25, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, fell from the eighth floor of Harry Price House, Lion Farm estate, Oldbury, on August 8.

For more than six weeks his family kept a vigil at his bedside at Selly Oak Hospital but he died on September 20.

The ex-Private in the Queen's Royal Hussars served seven months in Afghanistan and seven months in Iraq during five years in the services.

After the inquest verdict at Smethwick Coroner's Court his mother, Elizabeth Gordon, 48, of Russell Close, Tividale, said: "We are all very proud of him and he was very proud to have served his country. He has been remembered by the charity Help For Heroes on their website now, and he's on a plaque of remembrance in Germany."

The inquest heard Mr Gordon, a machine operator, died of injuries suffered in the fall from the balcony of his flat in Harry Price House.

Former flatmate Damien Sproston, 25, said Mr Gordon enjoyed a paintballing session before going out with friends to the Rowley Rag pub, Rowley Regis, the night before his death.

Mr Sproston visited his girlfriend that night and when he returned he saw the door to the balcony ajar and police at the foot of the building. He tried to call Mr Gordon but got no answer.

Emma Millard, 18, who was seeing Mr Gordon before he died, said he sounded distressed when he asked to pick her up on the morning of his death. "Looking back it sounded like a cry for help," she said.

His uncle, Francis Downes, said: "I was in the first Gulf War and we used to go for a drink and talk about stuff he had seen in the Army. It used to be a relief for him."

Black Country Coroner Robin Balmain recorded the medical cause of death as injuries suffered by the fall.

Recording an open verdict, he added: "I don't know how it is he fell but I'm not going to record that he killed himself. There's every possibility this was an accident."