Inquest: Bransgore man Martin Gibson died after falling down the stairs of Bransgore home

A "FIT and healthy" man died instantly after falling downstairs at his home in Bransgore and fracturing his skull, an inquest was told.

Martin Gibson (61) was discovered at the foot of the stairs with a broken mug beside him, Winchester Coroners' Court heard.

He was found by a friend of his son, Dexter, who had summoned help after becoming worried about not being able to reach him over a weekend.

He had asked Matthew Holley to check on Mr Gibson at his home in Burley Road.

He made the awful discovery of Mr Gibson's body and called paramedics and the police.

But Mr Gibson, who had suffered a massive skull fracture, had been dead for some time.

Area coroner Jason Pegg said a police statement reported a pool of blood around the back of Mr Gibson's head.

A post-mortem examination revealed that his skull was badly fractured which the coroner said was as a result of “a fall”.

Although he had heart disease, Mr Pegg said this had not contributed to his death.

Mr Gibson’s son told the inquest how his father had served as an officer in the navy for many years as an aircraft engineer.

He said he spent the weekend before Mr Gibson’s death at his father’s home.

Afterwards he had spoken to him during the week by phone but from the Friday to the Monday he had been unable to reach his father.

Worried, he had asked Mr Holly to check on him which he did on 4th April.

Ruling Mr Gibson’s death an accident, Mr Pegg said there was no obvious reason as to why he fell, saying he was a “healthy man”.

He added that he had “struck his head with substantial force” and his death was probably “immediate”.