AN OPEN verdict was recorded at an inquest into the death of a 97-year-old Poole woman who fell to the floor after being pushed by her mentally disturbed grandson.

Irene Elsden, who lived with her daughter Pam Dixon in Carlton Grove, Parkstone, broke her hip and shoulder in the fall.

She was taken to Poole Hospital by ambulance but died of a chest infection seven weeks later.

Ambulance technician Adam Crawford told the inquest that when he and his colleague arrived at the house on April 30 last year, Mrs Elsden was lying on the floor.

"She had blood in her mouth as though someone had hit her. She was very quiet. I asked whether she had been hit. She just nodded," he said.

Mrs Dixon told the inquest that Adam Dixon suffered from mental health problems and had been drinking during his three-day stay at the house. That day, he had put his hands around her throat twice.

After her daughter-in-law Kelly Dixon came to the house, Adam again "went for" his mother.

"He sort of let go, then came again. We backed into the lounge. Because I'm a Christian, I called out 'Jesus come'," said Mrs Dixon.

She went to a neighbour to ask him to telephone the police, but heard her mother cry out and returned to find her lying on the floor.

Kelly said: "Nan got out of the chair and turned round to face Adam. She said: 'Call the police'.

"At that point Adam pushed Nan at shoulder height, not a very hard push. If he had pushed me, he wouldn't have pushed me over. She fell backwards on to the floor. Adam was not aware he had done it. He was very disorientated."

Adam told the inquest he could not remember arguing or coming into physical contact with Mrs Elsden.

He was arrested after the incident but later sectioned under the Mental Health Act and admitted to St Ann's Hospital. Psychiatrist Dr Sandra Pearson said he had a history of bipolar disorder and had bouts of depression and anxiety.

Home Office pathologist Dr Basil Purdue said Mrs Elsden died from bronchial pneumonia and had been suffering from severe osteoporosis, which had made her bones fragile.

Detective Inspector Steve Thorpe said Mrs Elsden had told officers that Adam had assaulted her, but expert legal opinion was that there was not enough evidence to support a charge of manslaughter.

First published: August 13