A LOVING father and brother from Stockbridge died after suffering a suspected fall, which left him with broken ribs.

Christopher Barnard, 73, who lived alone in Stockbridge died on March 18, 2021 at his home, after he fell and broke his ribs, a hearing at Winchester Coroner’s Court heard today (April 12).

Mr Barnard had a number of underlying health problems and had previously been admitted to hospital in February but no broken ribs were found.

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Area coroner Rosamund Rhodes Kemp gave a verdict of a “tragic” accidental death after the court heard it was likely he suffered another fall at home on the day of his death, leaving him with broken ribs that subsequently caused fatal bleeding.

She said: “He was obviously much loved and a happy man but unfortunately, he did fracture his ribs.

“In terms of a verdict because the fall clearly caused the rib fractures, and the rib fractures caused the fatal bleeding. The most appropriate conclusion was an accident and it was the fall that caused all the problems in the first place.”

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His family who were at the inquest described him as a very "happy person” who did not deserve to go the way he did.

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