Popular Walsall cricketer died after fall from sports club roof

Stuart Clarke, 33, of Cavendish Road, had been 'larking around' with members following a party to celebrate the end of the rugby season at Bloxwich Stafford Road Sports Club on April 23.

Mr Clarke, who was also bar manager of the club, had climbed on to the three-metre high, flat roof at 2am to retrieve the woolly hat.

It had been thrown up there moments before by a friend during 'horseplay', Black Country Coroners Court heard.

Mr Clarke used a pair of wooden step ladders that were around a metre short of the actual height of the roof and clambered onto the canopy of a roller shutter to get on top of it.

While coming down he 'struggled to find his footing' and fell to the ground hitting his head, the hearing was told.

Mr Clarke was rushed to Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he died of his injuries ten days later.

Speaking at the inquest, Philip Kelly, environmental health officer at Walsall Council, said: "The party continued with close friends into the early hours and during that time there was some horseplay surrounding a gentleman's hat.

"The owner of the hat had expressed concern that he wanted it back so Mr Clarke obtained a pair of six-step wooden ladders to retrieve it.

"They fell well short of the roof so he used the canopy of the roller shutters to climb a metre further to the top.

"On his way down he struggled to find his footing and sadly fell over the top of his friend who was footing the ladder below and hit his head.

"The step ladders were for internal use only and not for access to the roof."

Mr Clarke had gone on the roof against advice of other members, Black Country Coroners Court was told.

He had been drinking alcohol that evening but not enough to effect his judgement.

In an eyewitness statement read out at the inquest, Mr Clarke's friend Roger Garbett, said: "Stuart said he was getting the ladders and said to me 'Will you foot the ladder' but I said it was a bad idea yet he insisted he could get it.

"He threw the hat down but was then unsure of his footing so I climbed up the ladder and gently held on to his leg to help him.

"Without warning he flew over my head and fell to the ground.

"At first I thought he was OK but then we realised he was unconscious so rushed to call an ambulance."

Mr Clarke had been bar manager at the club for less than a month, but a member since the age of 14.

The cause of death given was a traumatic brain injury.

Senior Coroner Zafar Siddique gave a conclusion of accidental death.

Walsall Council said a full investigation had taken place at the club, but because the incident happened 'outside of Mr Clarke's capacity of employment' no action would be taken.

However, a formal letter will be sent to the club after the inquest.