A PENSIONER who stayed away from hospital to avoid worrying her sister died weeks after falling at her home, an inquest heard.

Grace Turner, better known as Betty, suffered serious head injuries in the fall on October 10 but refused to call an ambulance.

The 86-year-old, who lived alone in Litchfield Road, Midanbury, Southampton, suffered from leukaemia and arthritis and was visited twice a day by a district nurse, who convinced her to call an ambulance when she learnt of the fall five days later.

Ms Turner was treated for a brain haemorrhage at Southampton General Hospital but died on November 4.

The inquest heard she was an “independent soul” who didn’t want to worry her sister, Molly O’Neill, with her health problems.

In a statement read to Winchester Coroner’s Court, Dr Vladimir Malykh said Ms Turner became confused and struggled to remember details of the incident when taken to hospital.

Senior central Hampshire coroner Grahame Short recorded a verdict of accidental death.