A 90-year-old man tragically fell to his death from a first-floor window while trying to observe construction work at a neighbour’s property, a court has heard.
George Napper died at his home in Rosedale Road, Dagenham, after falling from a second bedroom window that overlooked the back garden. The incident occurred on the morning of April 4 and was witnessed by family members who were outside at the time.
An inquest into Mr Napper’s death was formally opened on Tuesday, April 22, at East London Coroner’s Court in Walthamstow. Senior coroner Graeme Irvine described the death as “unnatural but not suspicious” and said it had been referred to the court by the Metropolitan Police.
“It was reported that Mr Napper had had a cigarette and then gone upstairs and was observed to be leaning out of the second bedroom window on the first floor, which overlooks the back garden,” Mr Irvine said.
“It would appear that members of the family were in the garden. They reported that Mr Napper was observing some building work that was being done in a neighbour’s property. The family then saw Mr Napper fall. He unfortunately fell out of the window.”
Emergency services were called, but despite the swift arrival of the London Ambulance Service, Mr Napper was pronounced dead at the scene at 10.20am.
A post-mortem examination confirmed his cause of death as “multiple severe traumatic injuries”.
Coroner Irvine told the court that the circumstances warranted a full inquest to determine how Mr Napper came by his fatal injuries and whether anything could have been done to prevent them.
“Inquests are held in the public interest to investigate deaths from unnatural causes and whether future similar deaths might be avoidable,” he explained.
Mr Napper’s family have been designated as “interested persons” under coronial law, which entitles them to see evidence before the final inquest and question witnesses during proceedings. The coroner has asked the family to provide a “detailed chronology” of events on the morning of April 4 and to assist in identifying any possible factors that contributed to the fall.
The final inquest has been scheduled for October.
