Fall man's death was an accident

Ambulance staff had not realised Mr Purnell had been unconscious

An inquest jury has returned a verdict of accidental death in the case of a man who died days after a street fall.

Henry Purnell, 77, of Great Yarmouth, had been drinking before he fell and lost consciousness.

Ambulance staff told an inquest in Great Yarmouth they had not realised Mr Purnell had been unconscious, and handed him to police without treatment.

Three hours later he was taken from police cells to hospital but died two days after from severe brain injuries.

In returning its verdict, the jury concluded that Mr Purnell died on 4 February from a head injury caused in a fall two days earlier.

Home Office Pathologist Dr Benjamin Swift told the court that an external examination to Mr Purnell's head showed there was a 9cm (3.5in) cut to the back of his head.

However, he said there was little indication of the seriousness of the injuries to his skull and brain.

In an examination, Dr Swift said that there was a significant fracture to the skull, with plates of bone being broken apart causing bleeding into the brain causing pressure to build up.

He added: "The brain was (also) swollen and damaged but with nowhere to expand it raises neurological pressure.

"This means that the blood supply was being cut off."

Dr Swift said Mr Purnell's age may have added to the severity of the injuries caused, because the brains of older people tend to shrink, making it more prone to tearing in a severe fall.