Gardener's death 'was accident'

4:00pm Monday 12th May 2008

AN 80-year-old man died after falling from a ladder when he was doing his gardening, an inquest has heard.

Ronald Ridgeway, 80, of Ollershaw Lane, Marston, died on September 16, 2007, at Leighton Hospital, after a fall at his home.

The inquest heard that Ronald and his wife Maureen were keen dancers and they had been dancing all night the previous evening.

The next day, September 16, he decided to prune his clematis in his garden using an extendable ladder.

At noon his wife went to check on him after hearing a dull thud, similar to a car door slamming.

She found Ronald, a retired farm worker, on the floor.

She said: "When I found him there was blood coming from his nose and his ears."

She added that he husband was known to feel dizzy if he lifted his arms above his head for a sustained period of time.

Cheshire Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg said that Ronald died almost instantly' of a head injury.

He said: "He may have temporarily blacked out and fallen.

"This would give an explanation on why he didn't cry out or try and grab the ladder when he fell.

"I'm satisfied that what happened was entirely accidental."

Verdict: Accidental Death