A RETIRED clergyman died after suffering a ‘very nasty head injury’ in a fall outside his Kirkby Lonsdale home, an inquest heard.

George Worthington, 78, was taken immediately to Royal Preston Hospital for an operation which successfully removed a clot from his brain after the fall on February 21.

But Coroner Ian Smith said: “His underlying condition was very serious and he never really recovered from the operation.

“A fall can happen to anyone but the consequences are often much more severe for people who are getting on in years.”

Mr Worthington died at Royal Lancaster Infirmary on March 27 after being transferred from Preston.

A verdict of accidental death was recorded.