AN ULVERSTON woman who beat cancer twice died in hospital after suffering an unwitnessed fall outside her home, an inquest heard.

Mary Snaith, 73, of Tyson Square, died in Furness General Hospital on November 10, 2022, three days after she was found on her doorstep at around 6am on November 7 by a man delivering her newspaper.

Peter Fisher was not unable to carry her into her house so called his boss John Lawther, who arrived to help ten minutes later.

A statement by Mr Lawther read to Cockermouth Coroners Court said that Mr Fisher had found Mrs Snaith 'soaking wet and freezing cold' on her doorstep after a rainy night and morning.

He said Mr Fisher's initial thought was that she had been having a cigarette and had fallen and was unsure how long she had been there.

The two men took her into her bedroom and covered her in blankets in an attempt to keep her warm while waiting for the ambulance.

Mrs Snaith's daughter Wendy Potter arrived at 6.20am before paramedics, who arrived five minutes later.

A statement by Mrs Potter told how Mrs Snaith, a widow, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 1992, the removal of which caused her to suffer from epilepsy thereafter.

She also suffered from thyroid cancer in the early 2000s, which was treated with an operation and radiotherapy.

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In 2021 Mrs Snaith, originally from Broughton, was diagnosed with dementia after a stay in hospital for Covid-19 and also suffered from type-2 diabetes and heart problems.

Upon arrival at Furness General Hospital on November 7, a CT scan found a bleed on the base of her brain.

Over the next few hours, Mrs Snaith became less responsive and a further scan revealed that the bleed had progressed, and a decision was made with her family's approval to treat her palliatively.

Mrs Snaith died on November 10.

Assistant Coroner for Cumbria Craig Smith said he accepted the cause of Mrs Snaith's death to be a cardio-vascular bleed caused by a fall, with secondary, indirect causes of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, aortic stenosis, hypertension, and diabetes.

He said the cause of death her death was accidental.

Mr Smith said he could not say what directly caused her to fall, although her GP, Dr Alison Johnston of Hoad Medical Practice, said that when she had seen Mrs Snaith on October 3, 2022, she said that she had fallen two months previously as the handle outside her house was 'rotten and had snapped'.

He also commented on the actions of Mr Fisher and Mr Lawther.

He said: "I commend them for their actions in trying to ensure that Mary was looked after until medical help could arrive."