Inquests tell of two people who caught Covid-19 after falls
Inquests have been held into two Black Country people who caught coronavirus after suffering falls at their homes.
Former school teacher Paul Stephen Williams, 71, of Uplands Avenue, Willenhall, fell while walking downstairs to his toilet, Black Country Coroner's Court was told.
He suffered spinal fractures and was taken to hospital on January 19, an inquest heard, where he stayed for treatment.
However Mr Williams tested positive for coronavirus on April 2.
At the time, he was also being treated for hospital-acquired pneumonia and a urine tract infection, the inquest was told.
But his condition deteriorated and he passed away on May 6.
Joanne Lees, the area coroner for the Black Country, told the court: "His death was referred to me by New Cross Hospital.
"His wife said he had been really unwell with a chest infection. As he went down the steps to the toilet, his legs gave way causing him to fall."
Doctors gave his primary cause of death as hospital-acquired pneumonia, while contributing factors were Covid-19 and spinal fractures.
Ms Lees added: "On the evidence I find Paul died at New Cross Hospital. I accept his medical cause of death [given by doctors].
"It is clear from the evidence that a fall took Mr Williams to the hospital. He sustained an injury and a period of inmobility. He [then developed] a chest and respiratory infection.
"Therefore, there is a direct link between his fall, his injury and his death.
"On evidence, my short-form conclusion is that he died an accidental death."
Meanwhile Patricia Grace Attwood, 88, suffered a broken hip after a fall at her home on Dobbins Oak Road, Stourbridge, on February 27.
Ms Attwood, who was born in Stourbridge, alerted carers to her predicament as she wore a call tag due to poor mobility, Black Country Coroner's Court was told.
Mobility
She was taken to hospital where she underwent surgery.
However while in hospital she developed a cough and tested positive for Covid-19.
After her treatment, Ms Attwood was taken to Comberton Care Home, in Amblecote, where her condition deteriorated. She died there on May 6.
Joanne Lees, the area coroner for the Black Country, told the court: "She was a larger lady with poor mobility.
"On February 27, she was admitted to hospital and she underwent surgery on February 28.
"She developed a cough and tested positive for Covid-19. She went to the care home where her condition deteriorated."
Ms Lees continued: "Her death was referred to me by her GP. The information from her daughter was that she had poor mobility and wore a call tag.
"Carers visited her four times a day. Somehow she fell between the kitchen and living room. She called from her call tag and went to hospital."
Doctors gave her primary cause of death as Covid-19. Contributing factors were listed as a broken hip [fracture neck of femur], atrial fibrillation and essential hypertension.
The coroner recorded her death as accidental.
Ms Lees added: "It is clear from the evidence the fall led to her going to hospital. The injury led to her going to her poor mobility, which led to the development of a respiratory infection.
"My short-form conclusion is she died an accidental death."
