Ronald Claxton developed a bleed on the brain following the incidents, but a coroner concluded his death was due to natural causes linked to his underlying health conditions, rather than an accident.

James Paget University Hospital (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Claxton, who was known to family and staff as Ronnie, died at the James Paget Hospital on September 20, 2025.

His inquest, which first opened on October 2 last year, was adjourned and concluded this month.

The hearing was told Mr Claxton had moved into Marine Court Residential Home in Great Yarmouth on June 9, 2025, after spending time in hospital.

In a statement read to the court, the home’s manager described him as a gentle man whose “lovely smile could melt anyone’s heart”.

However, staff initially struggled to get him to take medication as his dementia caused agitation and confusion. He later received medication covertly, mixed into food such as toast and jam.

Although he was eating and drinking well, his mobility was poor and he suffered several falls over the summer.

On August 11, a care assistant heard a bang and found him on the dining room floor after he slipped while walking in for breakfast. Emergency services were contacted and he was monitored, with no serious injury suspected.

Further incidents followed. On August 14, staff helped him to the ground when he lost his balance, and on August 17 he was found on his bedroom floor after his alarm was activated.

On August 23, he fell again, landing on his left side.

Concerns about his health grew in the weeks afterwards. Staff noticed he appeared increasingly drowsy, and his wife Jean and two daughters became worried he was deteriorating.

On the morning of September 16 a GP reviewed him but felt he did not require hospital care.

But later that day after he became very sleepy, stopped eating and refused medication, staff agreed with the family he needed hospital treatment.

The care home manager told a GP during a phone call she felt Mr Claxton “looked like he was going to die,” and an ambulance was eventually called.

At the James Paget Hospital, scans revealed large blood collections on both sides of his brain, known as bilateral haematomas, consistent with traumatic brain injury sustained during a fall.

Doctors also treated him for dehydration and infection, but despite treatment his condition did not improve.

Medical teams concluded further active treatment would not benefit him, and he died in hospital at 6.10am on September 20.

Addressing the court, daughter Donna questioned why her father had not been sent for a scan after the falls, saying: “You should, with any bang to the head have a CT scan.”

She also criticised delays in him being sent to hospital. She said: "I feel the GP did not act as quickly as they could have. It was quite a battle for the doctor to agree to staff calling an ambulance."

Medical evidence heard by the court showed Mr Claxton did not display the classic warning signs of a brain bleed, such as vomiting or severe headaches, making the injury difficult to recognise.

Assistant coroner Maeve Sykes said Mr Claxton had complex medical problems including dementia, diabetes, COPD, frailty and a long history of falls, and that his health had been declining for some time.

Summing up, she said he suffered both witnessed and unwitnessed falls but did not display typical symptoms of serious head injury at the time.

Recording her conclusion, Ms Sykes said that while falls contributed to his deterioration, the significant role played by pre existing conditions meant that and accidental death conclusion would not be appropriate.

She concluded he died from natural causes contributed to by injuries sustained in falls.

© Eastern Daily Press