A retired chauffeur died after falling and hitting his head on the pavement while collecting some shopping from his car, an inquest heard today.
Ernest Wood, 85, of Bank Mill, Berkhamsted, had been shopping in the town centre with his wife Irene that morning – but forgot to bring in some of the bags.
Mr Wood, who was taking Warfarin as a treatment for his deep vein thrombosis, went back outside to collect the bags at about 3.50pm on January 11.
Coroner Edward Thomas said: “He had a dizzy spell coming back, fell and hit his head on the concrete pavement.”
Fifteen minutes later, Irene found him sitting on the floor and his head was bleeding.
He recovered, but later did not wake up from a nap and was taken to Watford General Hospital.
He was examined by neurosurgeons during the course of the next few days, who concluded there was nothing they could do for him. He died on Janurary 15.
A statement from his daughter Jennifer Titford was read to Hatfield Coroners Court, praising the hospital’s staff.
It said: “They were attentive at all times and whenever we wanted to speak to a doctor we could.
“Throughout, my father was treated with dignity and respect by all staff who came into contact with him.”