AN elderly care home resident from Pensnett died of pneumonia and COVID-19 after breaking his hip in a fall, an inquest was told.

Peter Bowater died in Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, on April 2 after being admitted to hospital on March 8.

The 87-year-old, who had been suffering from dementia, fractured his right hip after falling down a step at Rosewood Care Home in Pensnett High Street - having already undergone a hip replacement some time ago.

Area coroner for the Black Country, Joanne Lees, told the inquest at Black Country Coroner's Court that Mr Bowater had fallen down a step at the care home, having managed to exit a security door, but she said there were no concerns about the pensioner's care at the home or the hospital.

West Bromwich-born Mr Bowater, a retired manager and scrap metal dealer who had been a resident at the care home for about 18 months, underwent surgery in hospital on March 10 and post-operatively he developed bronchopneumonia due to COVID-19, Mrs Lees told the hearing on April 8.

His condition deteriorated and he passed away on April 2 of bronchopneumonia caused by COVID-19 - with the coroner adding that the fracture had contributed to but was not directly related to his death.

She offered her "sincere condolences to the family of Mr Bowater" and concluded that a fall had contributed to a natural cause death.