Pensioner dies after falling down stairs

A 77-YEAR-OLD Weston man died after falling down some stairs in a Bristol pub.Ronald Davis, of Grove Park Road, had gone out for a drink with a friend when he was found lying in a pool of blood at the bottom of some stairs in the Bank Tavern, John Street.At an inquest into his death at Flax Bourton Coroners' Court on Friday Mr Davis' son explained how his father often went to Bristol to listen to jazz.The court heard how Mr Davis was seen in the Bank Tavern, Bristol, at about 4pm.Ronald's son Anthony said: "My father enjoyed going out for a social drink, listening to jazz and playing quiz machines. He suffered from angina but apart from that he was well. He had fallen twice in the past few years, both were accidents."My father called on the day of the accident and seemed in a good mood."Barman Dante Iraci, who was working in the Bank Tavern at the time, said: "I heard a loud crash in the direction of the cellar and I thought someone might be breaking in. I ran to the top of the stairs and opened the door and saw a male lying at the bottom of the stairs, his head was to the left side and his foot was still on the last step."Mr Davis was taken to Bristol Royal Infirmary with head injuries, but he later developed pneumonia and died on June 14.Environmental Health officers were sent to the pub to check on the condition of the staircase after the accident. A statement read out in court stated that the officers found the steps in good condition, there was a handrail down one side and although the staircase was narrow the lighting was sufficient.Deputy coroner Mr Moore recorded a verdict of accidental death. He said: "We don't know whether Mr Davis was coming up the stairs and had an angina attack and fell, or whether he was coming down and slipped, that we'll never know.