Black Country man died after falling while 'cutting neighbour's over-hanging tree'

Jagdish Ran, 59, suffered a rib fracture and was taken to intensive care at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

But while being treated at hospital, he developed pneumonia and died from the infection on April 22.

His daughter-in-law said Mr Ran was cutting an "overhanging branch from his neighbour's garden" before he fell, Black Country Coroner's Court was told.

"He had decided to the climb the ladder [to reach] the over-hanging branch," said senior coroner Zafar Siddique, reading Mr Ran's daughter-in-law's evidence.

"He has fallen suddenly [and sustained] injuries. The clippers and cutters he was using remained in the tree."

However Mr Ran wasn't taken to hospital until the next day.

Mr Siddique continued: "The family said he was at home overnight and was admitted to hospital in the morning, following a call by his daughter."

Factors

At hospital, doctors discovered he had left-sided rib fractures - and he was subsequently admitted to the hospital's intensive care unit.

Mr Ran was then given a chest X-ray and it was found he had developed pneumonia.

However, his state "became more agitated" and he passed away on April 22, the inquest was told.

Doctors gave his primary cause of death as pneumonia, while contributing factors were rib injuries and a fall from a ladder.

The coroner's office recorded his death as accidental. Mr Ran, of Nimmings Road, was married and a retired security guard.

Mr Siddique said: "On the evidence, he had a fall while cutting the garden, sustained rib injuries and was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

"He developed pneumonia and his condition deteriorated rapidly, before he passed away. My conclusion is he died an accidental death."

He added: "Can I please take this opportunity to offer my condolences to the family."