A coroner described as "tragic" the death of a pensioner who couldn't call for help because her telephone had been cut off.

Widow Winnie Goddard was 88 when she bled to death in her home in Newberries Avenue, Radlett, in March.

Her BT line had been out of order for two weeks because of damage caused by nearby roadworks - despite repeated requests for it to be fixed from her concerned neighbour, Tony Sigler.

Hertfordshire coroner Edward Thomas concluded her death was accidental at a hearing in Hatfield last Thursday, saying she died as a result of a haemorrhage caused by a laceration to her leg, made worse by her anti-clotting medication, warfarin.

He used her case to emphasise the importance of elderly people being able to call for help.

"When someone is elderly, they have to be able to communicate when something goes wrong, and that's the important aspect in this case," he said. "I think it's a great tragedy."

After considering medical evidence, Mr Thomas concluded Mrs Goddard had suffered a cut to her leg - possibly from a metal object found lying in the hall. She went into the bedroom to get a first aid kit, laid on the bed to alleviate the bleeding, but then went back into the kitchen to load the washing machine, the inquest heard.

Then, becoming progressively weaker, it was likely that she crawled into the living room and tried to pull herself onto an arm chair, but fell against the fireplace, causing a fracture to her skull, lost consciousness and died.

Mr Thomas read out evidence from BT, saying the fault on her line was "complex".

"At what stage she might have rung, I don't know," he said. "Prompt administration of vitamin K and pressure to the wound may have saved her."

She had been dead for 24 to 36 hours before being discovered. Speaking after the hearing, Mr Sigler said he was still angry that BT fixed the fault two days after Mrs Goddard's body was found - but not before.

  • Following correspondence with Mr Sigler, BT sent a cheque for £500 to Mrs Goddard's sister, Doris Edwards, as a donation to Mrs Goddard's favourite charity.