THE grieving family of a 79-year-old Accrington man are calling for an inquiry after he was discharged from hospital with a broken neck.

Frederick Sagar, who fell down the stairs of a bus, was released after treatment at Accrington Victoria Hospital.

He collapsed at his Fairfield Street home and was taken by ambulance to Blackburn Royal Infirmary, where he died in the coronary care unit.

Communicare, the NHS trust which runs Accrington Victoria, has launched an inquiry.

The family learned of his broken neck after a post-mortem examination.

Grandson Mark Sagar, 25, of Fern Gore Avenue, Accrington, said: "I would like to know why they let a 79-year-old man out of hospital only hours after he fell down the stairs of a bus."

His girlfriend, Bridget Maud, of Water Street, Accrington, said: "It's something you find out in hospital, not through a post-mortem."

The family is considering seeking legal advice. Mr Sagar was a popular figure on Accrington market, where he worked for 15 years alongside his son, Colin, who runs a fish stall.

Mark, who picked his grandfather up from hospital, said: "I asked if he was all right and he said he wasn't. He wanted to stay hospital. He said all they had done was give him two painkillers."

Mark said his grandfather could not stand up and he had lifted him into a wheelchair and then out of it into his dad's Jeep.

Son Colin, who was with Mr Sagar when he collapsed said he had complained of neck pain.

Mark said: "The paramedics said he had had a heart attack. They got his heart started again."

Mr Sagar whose wife, Jane, died in February, worked as a wagon driver until he was 50.

A spokesman for Communicare said: "We have been informed of the death of Mr Frederick Sagar and our first thoughts are for his family and relatives to whom we offer our condolences.

"In view of Mr Sagar's attendance at the minor injuries unit, our chief executive Ken Johnson has initiated an immediate inquiry and will meet the trust's medical director, Dr Philip Quinn, later today."

An inquest has been opened and adjourned.

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