A SEMI-retired joiner and funeral director died in hospital a month after falling down the stairs at his home, an inquest heard.

Stephen Hodgson, of Witherslack, fractured his ribs when he tumbled down the stairs after returning from the pub on New Year's Eve.

The 68-year-old was admitted to hospital two weeks later after becoming short of breath.

Tests revealed a drain was needed to take fluid out of the dad-of-two's chest and that he had also developed pneumonia.

Doctors changed the keen golfer's antibiotics on several occasions to try ward off the inflammation and also attempted to increase his oxygen levels to satisfactory levels - but he died in Furness General Hospital, Barrow, in early February.

Speaking at the inquest into his death, his widow Susan Hodgson praised the medical care her husband received during his time in hospital.

"I cannot fault the standard of care," she said. "They were absolutely fantastic and in fact I wanted to bring it to the attention of the Care Quality Commission. They informed me right through the time he was in hospital what was going on."

Mrs Hodgson added: "If he went to hospital earlier we might not be in this situation." Dr Cathy Hay, a consultant physician at FGH, who gave evidence of Mr Hodgson's time in hospital, replied: "It is hard to say but possibly."

Mr Hodgson, a member of Grange Fell Golf Club who took over the family joinery firm from his father, was first admitted to FGH on January 14 after initially refusing to go for treatment.

Scans revealed there was fluid on his left lung and evidence on pneumonia in the right.

A specialist doctor from Blackpool recommended the chest drain and Mr Hodgson was transferred to the High Dependency Unit to recover - where he was given high levels of oxygen.

Dr Hay said Mr Hodgson appeared stable and that his pulse and blood pressure was good on January 19.

The chest drain was removed the following day but an x-ray showed the infection was taking over.

He then passed black bowel movements which Dr Hay suggested could have meant bleeding in the gut. A gastroscopy - where a thin, flexible tube is used to look inside the patient - was performed which found an ulcer.

His condition deteriorated over the next few days and he suffered a cardiac arrest on January 23.

He was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit where his condition further worsened as his blood count level dropped before dying on February 2.

Coroner Robert Chapman recorded a verdict of accidental death.