A man died after he was reportedly punched to the ground in a town centre, an inquest has heard.

The hearing was told James ‘Jimmy’ Castle was struck once near the Harbour Street Bar in Ramsgate on March 28.

The 68-year-old was rushed to King’s College Hospital in London, but almost three weeks later his life support was switched off and he died the following day.

An inquest into his death has been opened by coroner Katrina Hepburn at Oakwood House in Maidstone.

She said Mr Castle was punched in Harbour Street at 10.36pm.

“This knocked him unconscious, causing him to fall to the ground and hit his head on the pavement,” she said.

Police and ambulance crews were called to the scene and much of the town centre was cordoned off while investigations were carried out.

Mr Castle was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.

Ms Hepburn continued: “He was placed in a medically induced coma due to the severity of his injuries.

“On April 17 his life support was removed, and on April 18 he was pronounced deceased.”

She said that while the cause of death is yet to be ascertained, a post-mortem examination made reference to a traumatic head injury.

Marshall Mitchell, of Crescent Road, Ramsgate, has been charged with unlawful wounding in relation to the incident.

The 34-year-old appeared before Margate Magistrates’ Court on March 31 and was remanded in custody.

The inquest opened on Thursday and was adjourned until after the conclusion of criminal proceedings.