A man died at Royal Blackburn Hospital after banging his head in a fall while in his private bathroom, an inquest has heard.

Roger John Lamonby, 76, was in a side room on ward C9 at Royal Blackburn Hospital having been admitted on September 28 feeling “rotten.”

On October 13, 2023, Roger, who was born in Blackburn and lived in Langho, hit his head while alone in the bathroom which was adjoined to the small side room where he was staying.

Angela Norton, a ward assistant, told an inquest at Accrington Town Hall that staff rushed to the room when they heard a bang and found Roger sitting on the floor with his back against the sink.

In her evidence, Ms Norton said Roger was usually mobile and independent but was distressed about being in hospital.

When he was asked if he had hit his head, Roger said he had ‘tapped’ it on the bottom of the sink.

Ms Norton helped him up and back to his bed and he appeared fine, though when she next saw him she said his condition was “considerably worse.”

Giving evidence together, Dr Muhammad Afridi and Dr Asghar Bhayo said Roger had a low platelet count due to a previous kidney transplant, and this would have affected how he felt after hitting his head, even if it was not a hard bump.

This would also have been contributed to by his age.

Dr Bhayo said when he would first check in on Roger he would be out of bed and sitting in a chair, but after the incident he was in bed every time he was checked on.

Roger’s family raised concerns he should have been more closely monitored by doctors following the fall.

Coroner Richard Taylor recorded a medical cause of death of traumatic intracranial haemorrhage caused by trauma.

Recording a conclusion of accidental death, Mr Taylor said: “Roger John Lamonby died on October 18, 2023 at Royal Blackburn Hospital from a head injury, most likely the result of an unwitnessed fall in his bathroom on October 13.”