Aston Villa legend Gary Shaw died following fall from taxi after night out drinking

The 63-year-old former footballer was discovered collapsed in the street by a neighbour after he fell and hit his head on a kerb on September 6 this year.

Birmingham Coroners Court heard yesterday (Thurs) the Villa icon passed away surrounded by his family 10 days after the accident.

The inquest was told Shaw had been for a night out at the Jam House in Birmingham city centre and was put in a taxi by friends at around 1.30am.

But as he got out of the cab, he fell and hit his head on a kerb before being found in the early hours by a neighbour who phoned an ambulance. 

The 1982 European Cup winner - regarded as one of Villa's best forwards in the club's 150-year history - was taken to the city's Queen Elizabeth Hospital. 

However his condition deteriorated and he died ten days later on September 16 after suffering a "severe head injury."

Birmingham Coroner Louise Hunt recorded that Shaw died as a result of an accident.

She said: "Mr Shaw had been out for the night drinking with friends on September 5. 

"In the early hours of September 6 and made his way home in a taxi. 

"He was found collapsed on the pavement outside his home address having fallen and hit his head. 

"He was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he was found to have a severe head injury as a result of the fall which resulted in his death on September 16." 

At the inquest, Shaw, of Edgbaston, Birmingham, was described as a single man who had been a professional footballer. 

Philip Cutler, his brother-in-law, said in a statement: "Gary had been out for the evening to the Jam House club. 

"At 1.30am he was put in a taxi by friends. I can confirm he had consumed an amount of alcohol. 

"However, some time after he got out of the taxi, fell and hit his head on the kerb side and was rendered unconscious. 

"It was sometime time between 2am and 3am he was found and an ambulance called."

A doctor said in a statement Shaw had suffered an extensive and diffused head injury and that no surgical intervention was possible.  

He was stabilised and put on the critical care unit. He had a CT scan on September 9 which showed a deterioration in the brain and he died on September 16. 

He said his death was the result of a severe head injury as a result of a fall and that hypertension was a contributory factor. 

A toxicological report showed that the ex-player had an alcohol reading of 221 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood - the legal limit being 80.

Shaw, an academy graduate, who scored three goals on the way to the final against Bayern Munich in Rotterdam, also netted 18 times for Villa during their march to the first division title in 1981. 

He scored 79 times in 213 games for his boyhood club.

The talented striker, who played for England under 21s, was named the Professional Footballers' Association Young Player of the Year in 1981 and European Young Player of the Year in 1982. 

He also played for Blackpool, Walsall, Kilmarnock and Shrewsbury Town.In recent years, Shaw, idolised by many on the terraces, had been a regular matchday attendee at Villa Park and often held Q&A sessions with corporate guests. 

The club ambassador had also worked as a statistician, having formerly helped coach the youth team.

Verdict: Accident.