AN elderly Halesowen woman died following a fall at her home, a coroner’s court was told.

Frances Labrum, aged 85, passed away at Russells Hall Hospital on December 19 after suffering from a vertebral fracture following a fall on the stairs at her house in Lyndon Close.

Black Country Coroners Court heard the retired wages clerk was admitted to hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest about half-a-mile from her home while being driven to a dementia care centre by her husband Raymond.

The court was told the ambulance crew gave CPR and adrenaline to Mrs Labrum, who regained circulation. However she had another PA (prolonged apnea) arrest on route to hospital, before once again regaining circulation at Russells Hall.

While at the hospital, the decision to not continue CPR if a further arrest took place was made.

Mrs Labrum’s son Graham told the senior coroner’s officer that his mother had dementia but could move around her home, however she would not go out of house without assistance.

It was heard that on the morning of her death, Mrs Labrum slipped on the stairs between 4am and 5am – falling from about two to three stairs up.

Her husband who was in bed at the time of the fall heard a thud and assisted her. Mrs Labrum – who was taken to hospital following a previous fall in September – complained of pain from where she had bruised herself.

A post mortem examination said Mrs Labrum died due to aspiration of the gastric contents, a vertebral fracture and minor head injuries.

The court was told the doctor who carried out the post mortem believes the fracture is “relatively recent” and also believes Mrs Labrum banged her head during the fall which sent shockwaves down her spine, leading to the fracture – which is “unlikely” to have been caused by the previous fall.

David Urpeth, assistant coroner, concluded Mrs Labrum’s death was accidental.