Fall victim not treated for hours

An elderly man did not receive hospital treatment until three hours after he fell over in the street and lost consciousness, an inquest heard.

Henry Purnell, 77, of Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, had drunk about six pints of lager before he left a pub and fell on 2 February, it was said.

Ambulance staff told jurors at Great Yarmouth coroners' court he was violent and they called police to arrest him.

Mr Purnell died in hospital two days later from severe brain injuries.

An ambulance control log said the initial 999 call was made at 1744 GMT.

Sgt Jason Cushing told jurors how he had reported for a night shift when Mr Purnell was taken into cells at Great Yarmouth Police Station.

He recalled how Mr Purnell was taken straight into cells because he was too drunk to understand his rights under arrest, but said he was co-operative.

Dried blood

Sgt Cushing said he repeatedly witnessed Mr Purnell falling asleep, but when questioned he was unable to say whether the victim had momentarily lost consciousness.

Sgt Cushing noticed dried blood on Mr Purnell's head and despite him having been assessed by ambulance workers, decided to report the injury to an on-call doctor.

"I wanted a doctor to give their opinion on whether this person was fit to be in custody or should receive medical attention," he said.

Sgt Cushing called for a doctor at 1922 GMT - 50 minutes after Mr Purnell arrived at the police station.

Head hit cage

A GP called back more than 20 minutes later and told police to get Mr Purnell to hospital.

"He just explained that with a combination of age, intoxication and a head injury, that the safest option was to take him to hospital," said Sgt Cushing.

As officers placed Mr Purnell into a police van he hit his head on the cage inside the van.

Officers told the inquest this did not cause any further bleeding.

Pc Zoe Catton, who was inside the van, said she warned Mr Purnell to mind his head but admitted she did not place her hand above his head.

Mr Purnell was assessed by a doctor at the accident and emergency unit at the James Paget Hospital, in Gorleston by 2055 GMT.

The hearing continues.