A CARE home resident died after he fell from a window after forcing it open.

An inquest into the death of John Miskimmin, who died at Bedwardine Care Home in the Rushwick in November 2020 took place yesterday.

The inquest heard each window in the care home has a stopper preventing it from being fully opened.

Coroner David Reid ruled Mr Miskimmin fell from the window after he forced the window open, breaking the stopper.

This, on the balance of probabilities, was the most likely cause of his accidental death, he said.

Bedwardine House business manager Bernard Mew told the inquest they now check the restrictors on the care home's windows regularly.

He told the inquest: “Because of what happened, we now have a weekly inspection to check the stoppers.

“It was on the list of things the cleaners were expected to go round and check.”

Mr Miskimmin, referred to by his nickname Jack, died after falling from a window in the early hours of November 21 that year.

Coroner David Reid heard evidence from staff at the home, hearing that Mr Miskimmin, 82, had been in an altercation with a member of staff earlier that evening.

This was after he had been restless, wandering the home and trying to get out.

He had been put to bed after the incident, but when another carer came to his room shortly after to find he was gone.

Searching the upper floor of the care home, she found an open window in room 11, with Mr Miskimmin seen lying on the grass below.

The pensioner, originally from Northern Ireland, had moved into the  care home on November 19.

He had been noticed by staff as “polite and kind” and not prone to being upset or agitated when staff dealt with him.

There had been a number of occasions in which he was found out of his room or trying to enter another resident’s room.

Each time, the court heard, he had been told to go back into his own room, which he did.

Giving evidence at the inquest was deputy manager of the home Christos Sarbinis, who said Mr Miskimmin was “kind and apologetic” and that there had been no issues with him.

He said: “He came outside with me once and we sat there talking.

“He asked how he could go home but we said no, you have to stay here for a few days and he accepted it and just said he was ready to go back in.”

Mr Mew explained the room had been vacant for a couple of weeks, meaning it was empty at the time of Mr Miskimmin’s death.

Reports from the police and ambulance services said Mr Miskimmin was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital where he was treated for multiple fractures.

The police report from DC Birchley of West Mercia Police confirmed the restrictor on the window was broken leading to two possibilities: either Mr Miskimmin had broken it or it had been faulty to begin with.

He was given medication for the pain and his family agreed with hospital staff to move him onto end-of-life care.

He died on the morning of November 26, with Coroner Reid recording his medical cause of death as multiple fractures linked to his fall.

The inquest verdict was accidental death.