AN 87-year-old man died after developing pneumonia in Southend hospital following a fall in his own home.

Leslie Canes was originally hospitalised after falling in his Rayleigh home, hitting his head on the fire place.

An inquest hearing at Essex Coroner's Court on Friday concluded his death, on August 19th, was an accident.

After suffering the fall, Mr Canes was transported by ambulance to Southend Hospital.

During his stay, he developed pneumonia, and spent several weeks at the hospital battling the illness.

Concluding the inquest, senior coroner's officer, Caroline Beasley-Murray, attributed no blame or fault, describing the incident as a "tragic accident".

She said: "Leslie Arthur Canes died as a result of an accident. Please offer my sympathies to the family.

"It is tragic that he fell against his own fireplace in his own living room.

"It must have been a very hard surface.

"He was ill for several weeks and spent a long time in hospital, that is horrible."