A MAN died after sustaining head injuries from a fall in Burnley General Hospital, an inquest heard.

Harold Schaller, 79, from Height Croft, Brierfield, was admitted to the hospital on November 22 suffering from a loss of appetite.

Christine Marsden, the ward manager, said: "During his stay on ward 15 he was acting strangely, refusing to eat and refused to move from a private bay into the ward and refused to open his curtains.

"His refusal to eat will have contributed to his fall but I think it is fair to say that Mr Schaller would only do what Mr Schaller wanted to do and was showing signs of depression.

"He was still quite mobile when he first fell but his condition deteriorated."

Speaking at the inquest, Dr Abdul Al-Dawoud, who performed the post mortem examination, said the cause of death was pneumonia and a brain haemorrhage caused by the fall.

Coroner Richard Taylor recorded a verdict of accidental death.