A RETIRED Romsley man developed pneumonia and coronavirus after being treated in hospital for a broken hip following a fall.

Retired floor layer Graham Jeavons, of Waverley Crescent, died at Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley - five weeks after he was admitted after falling from a taxi on the way to a dialysis unit on February 13.

After undergoing surgery for a broken hip, he developed anaemia and hospital acquired pneumonia and he was tested for COVID-19.

Area coroner for the Black Country, Joanne Lees, said Birmingham-born Mr Jeavons deteriorated and passed away on March 25 of pneumonia and COVID-19.

She said the broken hip contributed to but was not directly related to the death of 79-year-old Mr Jeavons who also had chronic kidney disease.

The hearing at Black Country Coroner's Court was told prior to his hospital admission Mr Jeavons had been suffering from severe gout which had severely impaired his mobility.

The coroner said: "I’m satisfied the injury and neck of femur fracture as a result of the fall has contributed to his death. Although the fall took place some five weeks before his death, it is in fact the fall that took Mr Jeavons into Russells Hall Hospital, led to him developing COVID-19 and bronchopneumonia which is directly causative of his death.

"On the balance of probability, I record a short narrative conclusion that a fall contributed to a natural cause death.

"I offer my sincere condolences to the family of Mr Jeavons."