A RETIRED milkman from Dudley is among the patients at Russells Hall Hospital to have passed away through complications of coronavirus.

William Smith died at the hospital on March 24 after being admitted following a fall at his home in Leabank Road, Dudley, Black Country Coroners Court was told this week.

Cradley Heath born Mr Smith, aged 87, was admitted to Russells Hall on March 11 after he caught his foot on a table in his bedroom – causing him to fall and break his hip. His daughter-in-law found him on the bedroom floor after breaking into the property, having been unable to get of Mr Smith.

The divorcee, who lived alone, also had leukaemia, heart problems and chronic kidney disease and was unable to undergo surgery for the injury.

On March 19 he developed a cough and was treated for pneumonia and tested for COVID-19.

He continued to deteriorate and passed away on March 24, with the cause of death given as pneumonia and COVID-19 - with the fracture contributing to, but not directly causing, his death - area coroner Joanne Lees said.

At an inquest hearing on March 31 she said the fall leading to the fracture had contributed to Mr Smith's death, adding: "It is that accident and that injury that took him into hospital that caused him to become immobile because he was unable to undergo surgery."

She said Mr Smith "was managed conservatively for that fracture" and added: "That led to the development of COVID-19 and development of bronchopneumonia leading to his death."

Mrs Lees gave a short narrative verdict - saying a fall had contributed to a natural cause death.