Mistake costs husband his life

A SPLIT second mistake led to an elderly woman driving into her husband and breaking his leg – starting a tragic chain of events from which he later died.

A SPLIT second mistake led to an elderly woman driving into her husband and breaking his leg – starting a tragic chain of events from which he later died.

Peter Stockley, 82, of Paper Mill Lane, Bramford, died on January 3.

At his inquest at Ipswich Crown Court today coroner's officer Barbara Stark read a statement from his wife of 53 years, Joan.

It revealed how Mr Stockley was treated for cancer of the tongue in 1984, and was unable to eat properly afterwards, but the couple managed and he remained 'capable and well.'

But after a shopping trip to Bramford village, they drove home and Mr Stockley opened the garage door.

In her statement, Mrs Stockley said they had recently changed their car because their old one failed its MoT.

Ms Stark said: "When she went to put her foot on the brake, she put it on the accelerator instead, and knocked his leg. There was a large gash and she called an ambulance.

"He was taken to hospital where they had trouble feeding him. He recovered from a leg operation but was very weak, and then caught a chest infection. He died on January 3."

Dr Julian Orrell consultant pathologist at Ipswich Hospital, confirmed that Mr Stockley had been admitted to hospital on December 11, after the car incident, but developed a chest infection after the leg operation, and died as a result of bronchial pneumonia.

He added that Mr Stockley's leg had been broken in the accident.

Deputy coroner Roger Stewart recorded a verdict of accidental death.