A Beckton man who had been out drinking with friends tragically died after falling and suffering fatal head injuries, an inquest has heard.
Constantin Silvio Ditescu, 55, of Richard House Drive, sustained a serious brain injury after stumbling backwards and hitting his head outside Kingsway Pharmacy on the A124 Barking Road in East Ham on March 9.
Senior East London coroner Graeme Irvine, speaking at the inquest opening on Tuesday, March 8, at East London Coroner’s Court in Walthamstow, said Mr Ditescu had “been drinking with friends” before the incident occurred.
He was rushed to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, where medical staff fought to save his life. Despite treatment, Mr Ditescu died nine days later, on March 18.
The coroner confirmed the injuries were sustained in what appears to have been an accidental fall, but investigations are continuing to determine the precise circumstances leading to Mr Ditescu’s death.
As part of the inquiry, Mr Irvine has ordered the disclosure of Mr Ditescu’s GP and hospital records, as well as statements from London Ambulance Service paramedics who attended the scene. Toxicology tests will also be carried out on any blood samples taken during his admission to assess what substances were in his system and at what levels.
Mr Ditescu’s family have been named as “interested persons” in the case, giving them legal rights to access evidence and question witnesses during the full inquest hearing.
The final inquest is scheduled to take place on June 30.
Inquests are held to establish the facts surrounding sudden or unnatural deaths and to identify any circumstances that could help prevent similar tragedies in the future.
