A MAN from Headington died after falling from his loft while carrying out insulation work, an inquest heard yesterday.

Retired electrical engineer Richard Fairfield, 69, was rushed to the John Radcliffe Hospital and operated on following the accident on Saturday, March 1 but died 11 days later.

In a statement read at Oxfordshire Coroner’s Court by coroner Darren Salter, Mr Fairfield’s wife Sarah, a retired anaesthetic and recovery nurse, said he had been working in the loft at their home in Northfield Road.

He was also installing a permanent loft ladder and had been in the attic when she heard a “tremendous crash” from upstairs shortly after 4pm.

Mrs Fairfield found her husband lying at the bottom of the ladder with his head against the bannister, unconscious but breathing.

She called 999 and attemped CPR until paramedics arrived, and took him to the John Radcliffe Hospital. Scans showed he had suffered a brain haemorrhage.

Despite an operation, Mr Fairfield’s condition deteriorated and doctors and his family decided to turn off life support as there was “no realistic chance of recovery”, according to consultant neurosurgeon Alexander Green.

He was pronounced dead on Wednesday, March 12, with a post-mortem examination showing he died from a traumatic head injury.

Mr Salter recorded a verdict of accidental death.

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