Inquest hears how Suffolk couple died after falling down stairs together

A pensioner with dementia and his wife both died after falling down the stairs at their Suffolk home in a "tragic accident" an inquest has heard.

John Hewitson, 90, and his 55-year-old wife Chun Hewitson, known as Connie, were discovered by neighbours in Aldeburgh in October 2015 who became concerned that their front door was ajar.

Mr Hewitson, who was found at the foot of the stairs, died three days later at Ipswich Hospital.

Mrs Hewitson's daughter Pansy Kheng said in a statement that her mother was a full-time carer for Mr Hewitson, who had dementia and glaucoma.

Mrs Hewitson's medical cause of death was given as severe head injuryconsistent with a fall down stairs, while Mr Hewitson's was given asbronchopneumonia. Severe head and chest injuries consistent with a fall down stairs and dementia also contributed to Mr Hewitson's death, a post-mortem report said.

A Suffolk police report said the scene "appears to fit both falling down thestairs as a tragic accident".

Suffolk's senior coroner Nigel Parsley, recording conclusions of accidentaldeath for both, said: "At the time of the fall John was being attended to byhis wife who also fell with him."