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Edenbridge man due to start job at the Bank of England died after falling down stairs after night out

A dad tragically fell down the stairs and died after a night out drinking, days before he was due to start a new job.

John Woodhouse, of Champions Drive, Edenbridge, had spent the evening at a barn dance before returning to a friend's home, where the accident happened as he was on his way to bed.

John Woodhouse. Picture: Dermot Ronan Funeral Care
John Woodhouse. Picture: Dermot Ronan Funeral Care

Mr Woodhouse, who was due to start a new job with the Bank of England, was staying with John and Sue Mcnamara for the weekend and had been enjoying wine and gin after they returned from their night out.

During the early hours of Sunday October 17, last year, after Mrs Mcnamara went upstairs to bed, Mr Woodhouse left Mr Mcnamara in the kitchen to finish his drink.

On his way to bed he fell from the top of the stairs onto the hard slate floor of the kitchen. Mr Mcnamara saw the incident from the corner of his eye.

Coroner James Dillon found the procurement director's death was the result of a traumatic head injury, caused by an accident.

The father-of-two suffered internal bleeding on the brain.

Maidstone County Hall
Maidstone County Hall

The 54-year-old's toxicology report revealed his blood alcohol levels were almost three times the drink drive limit.

PC Georgia Marshal, who was at the scene, said: "We arrived at the address and saw Mr Woodhouse on the kitchen floor.

"South East Coast Ambulance (SECAmb) were at the scene and took over CPR from Mr and Mrs Mcnamara, who rang the ambulance as soon as the fall happened.

"SECAmb confirmed Mr Woodhouse fell down the stairs, sustained a head injury and then went into cardiac arrest.

"Mr Woodhouse fell down 12 steep stairs onto the hard slate floor. Mr Mcnamara said Mr Woodhouse did not regain conciousness after the fall.

"Alcohol contributed to the tumble Mr Woodhouse had on the stairs that lead to a fatal head injury"

"It was clear alcohol has been drunk due to bottles of wine, gin and mixers in the kitchen."

Mark Woodhouse, Mr Woodhouse's brother, said he wasn't a heavy drinker but enjoyed socialising with friends.

The coroner heard Mr Woodhouse was looking forward to starting his new job and was in good spirits at the barn dance.

PC Marshal stated that the police were not treating the death as suspicious.

Coroner James Dillion concluded: "Alcohol contributed to the tumble Mr Woodhouse had on the stairs that lead to a fatal head injury.

"This was an accident that lead to a traumatic injury caused by a fall down the stairs that happened due to Mr Woodhouse being intoxicated after a night out."

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