A coroner has opened a formal investigation into the death of a pensioner who fell from a first-floor window, a court heard.
Frederick Finch, 88, of Hall Road in East Ham, died on August 8 at Newham University Hospital.
His death was referred to the East London Coroner’s Court by Barts Health NHS Trust, as “his death was deemed to be contributed to by traumatic injuries caused in a fall,” said senior coroner Graeme Irvine.
Mr Irvine opened an inquest into Frederick’s death on Tuesday, August 20.
He told the Walthamstow court that Frederick had sustained “numerous bone fractures” when he “fell from a first storey window” on July 16.
However, from the information supplied to the coroner so far, it was unclear whether the fall had occurred at Frederick’s home (a short walk from Barking Road Recreation Ground) or elsewhere.
He was treated at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, then moved to Newham.
His preliminary cause of death has been given as sepsis, multiple organ trauma and “polytrauma” – meaning multiple injuries – caused by the July 16 fall.
Mr Irvine declared Frederick’s family as interested persons in the inquest, meaning they are permitted to interrogate evidence and question witnesses.
Barts Health NHS Trust was also declared an interested party.
Mr Irvine ordered disclosure of Frederick’s GP records, hospital records and London Ambulance Service records.
He set an inquest date of February 19, 2025.
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