Plymouth gran died after being knocked off feet by helicopter gusts at Derriford Hospital

A Plymouth grandmother was blown backwards by a landing Coastguard helicopter at Derriford Hospital, cracking the back of her head on a footpath and leaving her suffering a fractured skull and a fatal brain injury, an inquest jury heard.

The five-day inquest into the death of 87-year-old Jean Langan began today at Exeter County Hall, now the main coroner's court for Devon following its relocation from Plymouth.

Senior coroner Ian Arrow, who has been brought out of retirement by the Chief Coroner of England and Wales for this inquest, welcomed the family of retired civil servant Ms Langan who was a mother and grandmother. She died on March 4, 2022 at Derriford Hospital where she had been with her niece Gael getting a hearing aid fitted.

In attendance were a number of representatives from a host of organisations connected with the incident including the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB), the Health and Safety Executive, South West Ambulance Service Trust, HM Coastguard, the crew of the Coastguard helicopter, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust and Bristow Helicopters

In a statement from her family, read out at court by Mr Arrow, they said her "sudden and violent death has been huge". They said she would have "hated" the publicity surrounding her passing and felt she had "lost the quiet dignity that she would have chosen".

The inquest heard how she was "very proud of her son and his family and doted on her three grandchildren", adding that her son had found it "too distressing to participate in the inquest proceedings". She had become a "key figure" for the children in her wider family network and the youngest ones were left "distressed and confused about the sudden loss of Auntie Jean".

She was described as an "expert" at knitting, a keen recycler and nature lover who enjoyed long walks in nature reserves and National Trust properties with the family dog.

The family stated they accepted Mrs Langan was elderly and knew "that one day we would lose her". They added: "However, the manner of her death has affected us immensely. Jean was doing nothing wrong."

Mr Arrow explained to the court that shortly before her death Jean was in the hospital car park having attended the audiology department with her niece. He said: "A search and rescue helicopter carrying a patient was coming into land at the nearby hospital helipad. Mrs Langan was blown over by the downwash, that is the fast moving air that was created by the helicopter landing."

The incident was investigated by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), which published a report. He told the jurors that they would not be examining the matters the AAIB had already examined and they were to accept their findings which would cover the helicopter, the movements of the people in the car park, the helipad design and the impact of the downwashes.

He told the jury they would not be hearing from witnesses "directly involved in the helicopter flight or the operation of the helipad" at the hospital.

He said: "In short, you are going to receive a report from the inspector - which means we will not be hearing from individual witnesses. I will provide you with some guidance on that."

The jury watched CCTV footage from the hospital car park, which showed people walking back and forth to the wall of the helipad. At one point, as the large HM Coastguard helicopter came into view at the top right of the screen, a person - Mrs Langan - was seen to stumble and fall on the right hand side of the screen, close to a gate in the wall.

One member of the public appeared to race from the left end of the screen, running alongside the wall towards where Mrs Langan and her niece were, while two more came from further to the right. One person was then seen running towards a park ambulance at the other end of the car park and alerting two paramedics who then raced across the car park towards Mrs Langan.

Dr Amanda Jeffery, a Home Office forensic pathologist, told the inquest that Mrs Langan was 155cm/5ft 1ins tall and 50kg or 7st 12lbs in weight. She confirmed this meant Mrs Langan was smaller than the average person.

Dr Jeffery said the most "significant" injury was to her head, with an external laceration to the scalp around 4cm long which was "typical with contact with the ground". She also had bruising to her right temple around 7cm by 7cm and grazing, also due to contact with the ground.

An internal examination found a skull fracture to the back of her head, subdural haematoma and subarachnoid haematoma - effectively bleeding on the surface of the brain, along with bruising to the brain.

She noted how a report from a consultant neuropathologist recorded a "gliding" contusion which occurs when the head "takes a bump" and the brain bumps against the skull as it shifts. She said these injuries can lead to the brain swelling and slowing the blood flow.

The jury heard how Mrs Langan fell briefly unconscious but after she came around she was groggy and vomited. She was taken to the accident and emergency department and after examinations it was agreed they should provide palliative care.

The inquest heard she passed away just three and a half hours after the incident. Dr Jeffery said the head injuries were consistent with an unprotected fall backwards to the ground and the cause of death was given as head injury.

A statement read out in court from her niece Gael Hill, noted how Jean had been born in Liverpool and was one of seven children - although two had died in infancy.

She wrote: "Jean was generally in good health for her age. As a child, she had polio, which caused one of her legs to be slimmer and shorter than the other, although I cannot remember which one, but it never affected her mobility, as she would walk long distances."

She said Mrs Langan took calcium tablets to strengthen her bones and co-codamol for "her general aches and pains".

She said she had parked her car in car park B, adding: "The day itself was quite sunny and warm, and I don't remember it being particularly windy. I knew the hospital had a helipad, and had previously seen signage on other visits to be aware of downdraft and to watch out for debris."

The inquest continues.

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