A RETIRED gardener died after suffering a head injury in a fall, an inquest heard.

Graham Mason, of Mercia Drive in Mold, died at a specialist hospital in Staffordshire on November 30. He was 81.

Joanne Lees, assistant coroner for North Wales (East and Central), told a resumed inquest Mr Mason had fallen at his home and sustained a head injury on November 23.

In a statement read by the assistant coroner, his grandson Alex explained Mr Mason's mobility had deteriorated in the 12 months preceding his death and he had increasingly relied on a walking frame to get around his home.

He explained how his grandfather had suffered two previous falls which resulted in him being taken to hospital and had been planning to have a hip replacement operation this year.

In the statement he explained how he had found his grandfather on the ground at his home during a visit on November 23. He was unresponsive and an ambulance was called.

Mr Mason was taken first to Wrexham Maelor Hospital and then to the Royal Stoke University Hospital, the hearing at Ruthin was told.

Doctors found his neck had a fractured dislocation and, despite having surgery for relocation, his condition deteriorated and he developed an infection which led to his death on November 30.

A post-mortem examination concluded the cause of Mr Mason's death to be pneumonia following a head injury.

The assistant coroner recorded a conclusion of accidental death.