A hospital patient probably died after a minor blow which he may not even have noticed, an inquest was told.

Oxford Coroners Court heard yesterday that Geoffrey Clarke, 49, was admitted to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, in October for an operation on his colon, following the earlier removal of an abscess.

But following the successful completion of the operation and just days before being given a discharge date, Mr Clarke, of Thurston Close, Abingdon, suffered a massive haemorrhage in his abdomen. He died on October 18.

The inquest heard that there was no connection between the operation and Mr Clarke's death.

Consultant general surgeon at the John Radcliffe Patricia Clarke, who visited Mr Clarke the day before his death, said: "I was pleased with his progress and we had got as far as discussing his discharge date for later that week." But the court heard doctors were called later that night when Mr Clarke began complaining of pain in his abdomen and shortness of breath.

He was given painkillers, but the pain worsened and he collapsed and died the next morning.

Miss Clarke said the bleeding was probably caused by a blow to Mr Clarke's abdomen, such as knocking against a door handle or a bedside table. It could have been something so small he did not even notice it, she said.

Recording a verdict of misadventure, coroner Nicholas Gardiner said: "Mr Clarke died during the recovery period of a successful operation.

"He suffered a splenic rupture from a trivial and unknown trauma."

Story date: Friday 05 March

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