A PARTIALLY-SIGHTED man died after missing the hand rail and falling head-long down the stairs at his Blackburn home.
An inquest heard that Charles William Cattell, 64, of Addison Street, was fiercely independent and had refused an offer from his wife to go and get his jumper from upstairs.
Marjorie Cattell told the inquest that she heard her son, David, ask his father if he needed any help but that offer was also refused.
David said his dad was going back downstairs and was determined he could manage on his own.
"I saw him reach out for the rail but he missed and fell head first," said David.
Mr Cattell was admitted to hospital after his fall on September 9 and after appearing to get better, his condition deteriorated and he died on October 6.
The medical cause of death was given as bronchopneumonia as a result of a head injury and coroner Michael Singleton recorded a verdict of accidental death.
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