AN ELDERLY man died after falling down steps in front of his wife in Poole town centre, an inquest heard.

Charles Foxon Watts, 85, was attending a hospital appointment when he slipped down stairs into an underpass.

An inquest at Dorset Coroner’s Court on October 18 heard that Charles was a retired electrical engineer and living on Verity Crescent, Canford Heath at the time of his death.

He was born in Greenford, Middlesex, on May 21, 1939.

On October 10 Charles was visiting a musculoskeletal clinic for sciatica with his wife, Muriel Watts.

During a phone call with coroner’s officer Laura Thorne, on October 16 Muriel said Charles was feeling positive after the appointment.

They walked towards Clipper Restaurant when the couple came to the underpass.

Muriel asked Charles if he would like to use the ramp, but he insisted on using the stairs.

She said he was “absolutely fine” when he suddenly fell backwards, hitting his head and then fell forward down approximately five steps.

She added that he must have hit his head again as his glasses were broken.

Muriel said Charles was “totally absent” after he fell and that she knew instantly “he was gone”.

Charles was admitted to Poole Hospital where he was diagnosed with a large haemorrhage and a parietal skull fracture.

Dr Kenneth Powell, consultant in anaesthesia and critical care at Poole Hospital, said Charles was put on mechanical ventilation and a CT scan showed a “clear neurologically devastating injury”.

Doctors attempted to wake Charles on both October 11 and 12, but were unsuccessful.

Following discussions with his family, the decision was made to move Charles to palliative care.

On October 12 at 5.45pm Charles was confirmed deceased, passing away shortly after being taken off ventilation.

He was formally identified by a doctor using hospital wristband and his medical cause of death was recorded as traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Assistant coroner for Dorset, Richard Middleton, concluded Charles death as accident.

“My deepest sympathies go to Charles’ wife, Muriel, and all his family and friends,” said Mr Middleton.