A WINCHESTER man who lived "a very full life" died after acquiring pneumonia in hospital, an inquest heard.

Roy William Ford, 88, suffered an unwitnessed fall whilst climbing the stairs at his East Woodhay Road home, Harestock, on August 27.

This fractured a bone in his neck and he was rushed to the emergency department at Winchester Hospital before being transferred to Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital.

He died during his stay on September 2.

Dr Sarina Gurung, who treated Mr Ford, found the cause of death to be hospital acquired pneumonia, with complex cervical fractures and a fall contributing.

Mr Ford's wife Sandra, son Grahame, and daughter Elizabeth Daniels attended the inquest virtually via Zoom.

"He lived a full life, right up to the very end," said Grahame. "He always had a new story about something, or had a new hobby to tell you about.

"He was very involved with the Masons – in fact he was always very involved with things and was never just on the side. If he was passionate about something he would give it his all."

The family said that Mr Ford played bowls and took art classes in his later years, and added that he was relatively fit for his age.

Assistant coroner Samantha Marsh concluded the inquest as an accidental death.

She said: "On August 27 2020, Roy William Ford suffered an unwitnessed mechanical fall at his home address. He was taken to hospital by paramedics, where a CT scan revealed a fractured bone in his neck but Roy was not deemed suitable for surgical intervention so was conservatively managed.

"A CT scan on September 1 2020 revealed the presence of pneumonia. Roy sadly continued to deteriorate and remained in the Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital until his death on September 2 2020."