Grandmother died after Regent Arcade fall

A grandmother died after falling down an escalator at the Regent Arcade, an inquest heard.

Gwendoline Foreman died in hospital after tumbling 12ft down the moving escalator last year.

The 81-year-old, of Mickleton, near Chipping Campden, died at Cheltenham General Hospital on December 12 after falling on a shopping trip with her daughter on November 27.

Mrs Foreman fractured her arm and was given painkillers but later developed pneumonia, which she ultimately died of, the court heard.

The grandmother of six had arranged to meet with her daughter Diana King on November 27, the inquest heard

In a statement, Ms King said they met in Cheltenham at 10.30am and had lunch at Marks & Spencer's before going to the arcade at 12.45pm.

She said they went up by escalator to the first floor but discovered the toy shop they had intended to visit was no longer there.

Ms King then went on the "down" escalator alone, turned and saw her mother back at the top, she said. Mrs Foreman told Ms King she "felt a bit dizzy" and her daughter told her she would come back up.

However, Mrs Foreman stepped on the escalator, then fell down on her front, the court heard.

Mrs Foreman complained of pain and with cuts on her leg and shoulder, at the bottom of the escalator, said Ms King.

Ambulance crews arrived and she was taken to Cheltenham General Hospital, the inquest heard.

Gloucestershire coroner Alan Crickmore, who recorded a verdict of accidental death, heard how Mrs Foreman was diagnosed with a fractured right humerus and was given morphine for pain relief.

The next day she was noted to be "chesty" and her condition deteriorated and she developed an inflammatory reaction in her lung.

After seven days in intensive care she appeared to be improving but was still dependent on mechanical ventilation, the court heard.

On December 9, tests showed Mrs Foreman's heart was not functioning normally and she was taken off ventilation, before dying.

Mr Crickmore said he had viewed CCTV footage of the escalator and the event was as Ms King described.

He said Mrs Forman's death had arisen after a "chain of events".

"It was an unfortunate fall," said the coroner.

He added that he was sure she had felt dizzy and just not caught her footing before tumbling.