AN alcoholic died after tripping over and hitting his head while trying to pick up his dentures, an inquest has heard.

At 12.20pm on Tuesday, May 18, Christopher Tandy saw 67-year-old David Fallon appear from a bus shelter in Drakes Broughton, near Pershore, and pick up a pair of dentures lying on a nearby footpath.

The former clerk, of Stonebow Road, Drakes Broughton, had been drinking and fell over backwards, hitting his head on the path.

He did not respond when spoken to and Mr Tandy called the emergency services.

A passing nurse tried to staunch heavy bleeding, but he died of a skull fracture and blood clot on the brain at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, later that day.

At Worcestershire County Coroner's Court, Victor Round was told by Mr Fallon's GP that he was an alcoholic.

"I don't know if he had banged his head earlier and can't be sure when or how the fatal injury came about," he said.

He recorded an open verdict.