THE death of a man from Prestatyn who lost his life after losing control of his mobility scooter was ruled as an accident at a full inquest.

Richard Jones, of Ffordd Idwal, died aged 78 in Glan Clwyd Hospital, Bodelwyddan in the early hours of Saturday, August 13, 2022.

On August 7, the retired engineer had fallen from a height of about eight feet down a sea defence at Prestatyn promenade while on his usual walk with his wife, Susan.

An inquest held in Ruthin today (January 5) heard, courtesy of a statement issued from his wife, that Mr Jones suffered a cerebral aneurysm in the late 1970s.

As a result, his health deteriorated, and his walking and demeanour gradually worsened.

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Prestatyn man died after losing control of mobility scooter

Mr Jones’ wife said he would fall over “at least two or three times a month”, and that she acted as his primary carer for many years before being assisted by a support worker from June 2022.

He had sustained a broken leg from a fall in March 2022, and suffered from Type 2 diabetes mellitus, which affected the nerve endings in his back, which also contributed to his falls.

Mr Jones also suffered from hypertension and atherosclerosis, the inquest heard.

They purchased a motorised scooter for him about two years ago, which “he had a few crashes” while using, including at the promenade.

His wife said she “often had to tell him to slow down or speed up”.

On August 7, she said her husband “appeared to misjudge a step edge, resulting in him falling down the steps to the prom”.

He suffered serious head injuries, and was taken to Glan Clwyd Hospital, where he received palliative care before dying on August 13.

Llinos Williams, a physician associate who assisted Mr Jones while in hospital, said he was asked to review him on August 9 as he deteriorated.

In a statement, he found Mr Jones “lying in bed with his eyes open, but unresponsive”.

Williams said it was evident to him that Mr Jones’ prognosis was poor, and that the best course of action was end-of-life care.

He spoke to Susan and Andrew, one of the couple’s two children, that Mr Jones’ condition was deteriorating, and that he was approaching the end of his life.

When Mr Jones was reviewed on August 10, Williams described him as being “much more settled”, but “still unresponsive”.

Another review the following day found that Mr Jones’ breathing was distressed, which was settled with treatment. Williams said Jones’ family was satisfied with the care he received.

Concluding, John Gittins, senior coroner for North Wales East and Central, ruled Mr Jones’ cause of death as bilateral subdural and subarachnoid haemorrhage.

He said: “The trigger event into the death of Mr Jones was the fall he sustained from the promenade at Prestatyn on August 7, when he lost control of his mobility scooter, falling at a height of about 8ft.

“The conclusion I reach this afternoon is one of an accidental death.

“I post on record at this time my condolences to the family of Mr Jones, following the sad events which led to his passing.”