AS the first anniversary of the death of a Holmes Chapel man approaches, a coroner has offered her sympathy for the length of time it took to hear his inquest.

The jury inquest into the death of Clifford Burt, aged 88, of Rees Crescent, was held at Warrington Coroner’s Court on Monday.

Dr Janet Napier, the assistant coroner for Cheshire made her comments at the end of the inquest, which returned a unanimous verdict that Mr Burt had died on February 10 last year as a result of an accident and due to poor health in Leighton Hospital.

Dr Napier said the family of Mr Burt had had the jury inquest hanging over them for a long time, and after mentioning the approach of his first anniversary added: “I would like to have met him and I offer my condolences at this late stage.”

Mr Burt, who was born in Holmes Chapel had been a keen footballer in his youth and was a retired general foreman.

Despite being active and a keen gardener, he had coronary problems which in 2012 led to him having an aortic valve replacement.

His son Philip, of Middlewich, told the inquest that despite his dad’s breathing and respiratory difficulties, it would not be unusual for his father to continue to dig his garden.

Mr Burt’s wife, Jane, provided a statement about a fall he had sustained at their home on February 1, last year, in which he hit a radiator and after which he complained of pain.

After being taken to Leighton Hospital, it was discovered he had fractured his left hip and was suffering with confusion and bewilderment.

In consultation with Mr Burt’s family, medical staff decided for his own protection and well-being he should by subject to a deprivation of liberty order.

Orthopaedic surgeon Stephen Duckett discussed operating on Mr Burt’s left hip to insert a screw but warned the chances of it succeeding given his condition were slim.

However, the operation was about to go ahead on February 9, but had to be abandoned due to Mr Burt’s weakened state and he died on February 10 with his family by his side.

Dr Mliwomor Tsormetrsi recorded the cause of death as a chest infection and because of a left leg femur fracture.