A SIMPLE task of clearing out a troughing led to a fall and the eventual death of a 76-year-old man from Higham.
Gerald Mather, of Leet Road, died on February 10 in the Royal Preston Hospital after suffering a head injury, an inquest heard.
On February 8 he tried to clean out the troughing on his bungalow after it had started overflowing.
His wife Elizabeth McConville Mather went outside 10 minutes later to find him lying on his back on the ground next to a pair of step ladders.
She said she went back inside to call for help and that meanwhile her husband got up, walked into the bedroom and lay down on the bed.
Mr Mather was taken to Burnley General Hospital and then on to Royal Preston where he died.
Mrs Mather told East Lancashire coroner David Smith that when she had later looked at the ladder she noticed two of the feet had buckled under.
Mr Smith recorded a verdict of accidental death.
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