A BUILDER who toppled to his death off a ladder while working on a house in Prestwich had twice been checked out for chest pains.

But North Manchester Hospital found nothing wrong with 51-year-old Gerald McGoldrick, his estranged wife told an inquest on Tuesday.

Mr McGoldrick, of Berkley Court, Bury Old Road, Crumpsall, was found one afternoon last February lying unconscious on the driveway of the house in Shelley Road where he had been working.

He suffered severe head and brain injuries and died two days later. A post mortem had failed to establish what might have caused him to fall, said city coroner Leonard Gorodkin.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, the coroner said: "Sadly, even people who are used to working on ladders have falls."

"The ladder was firmly in position and it's clear he landed on his head, but we don't know why he fell".

Mrs Julia McGoldrick (46), of Simister Green, Prestwich, said after her husband's two health "scares" in February 2000 and last year he was advised to lose weight.

"The hospital thought it might have been due to stress. He never complained to me of any dizzy spells and the last time I saw him he was fine", she said.

Labourer Graham Madeley, who had been working at the house in Shelley Road, said shortly before the tragedy Mr McGoldrick had been sick in the bathroom.

"Afterwards he said he was alright and said it was a bit of heart-burn and we continued working", said the witness.

Mr McGoldrick had been removing a landing window when he plunged off the ladder. Nobody witnessed the accident, the court heard.