AN elderly woman died after an operation proved too much for her frail body, an inquest was told.

Miss Harriet Brewin, aged 89, of Hollin Close, Whitewell Bottom, Rossendale, fell at home and needed an operation at Burnley General.

The inquest, at Reedley Court, heard how Miss Brewin was registered blind, frail and had little mobility. But she managed to alert the warden with a panic button after the fall on July 21.

Mrs Marion Nuttall, a neighbour for 35 years, was sent to help Miss Brewin after the fall. She found her on the floor of the living room with her leg bent back, indicating it was broken.

She said Miss Brewin also had a blue mark on her face, and was still clutching the panic button, even though she had alerted the warden.

Miss Brewin died in hospital three days later.

A post mortem revealed that Miss Brewin's blood vessels which supply the heart had narrowed -- not enough to cause death, but it would have caused trauma.

Coroner Richard Taylor said: "It is clear from the evidence given that this was an accident which happened in the home and resulted in an operation. Unfortunately she didn't survive it."

He recorded a verdict of accidental death.