A retired head teacher died on a charity trip to Africa from head injuries following a fall, an inquest has heard.

Martin Bellis, 73, of St Mary’s Road, went into a coma and died in Kenya more than two months after the accident.

The inquest heard Mr Bellis had travelled to the country, moving into a convent’s guest house last October.

A statement from a convent member, Sister Aringo, said he had collapsed last November 28, adding: “He looked unusually weakened, was unstable and was losing his balance.

"He managed to shave and dress that morning but fell down again and was helped to get up.”

He was taken to hospital the next day, eventually having four operations, and went into a coma.

He died at The Nairobi Hospital on February 5 this year.

Pathologist Dr Michael Heath said that Mr Bellis had suffered a subdural haematoma , bleeding between the skull and brain, with the original injury rebleeding.

Medical records also showed Mr Bellis, who used a walking stick, had also been diagnosed with HIV in 1989.

Mr Bellis set up fortnightly group Faversham Writers and Short Story Readers at The Old Wine Vaults in Preston Street at the beginning of last year and he stood as a Lib Dem candidate in Swale Council elections for several years.

He had travelled to Kenya to teach girls at an orphanage run by the Franciscan Sisters of St Joseph and his ambition was to help more African women get into university.

He had a son Brendan, daughter Kate and grandchildren Megan, Olivia and Gabriel.

Rachel Redman, Central and South East Kent Coroner, recorded a verdict of accidental death at Dover Magistrates Court.