A father-of-two died after falling downstairs, an inquest heard.

John Martin Hemingway, 41, of Branwell Avenue, Birstall, was found by his wife Susan.

Coroner James Turnbull recorded an accidental death verdict.

Mrs Hemingway said her husband had drunk six or seven pints of bitter while they were out the night before his fall. He got up at 6am to use the toilet but she heard him fall. She called an ambulance.

Reading from her statement, Coroner James Turnbull said: "As the ambulance sped to hospital around a corner, part of the stretcher was dislodged and the ambulance had to stop while it was re-positioned."

He was dead on arrival at hospital. Dr Patricia Gudgeon said he had died of a fracture of the spinal chord. Paramedic Susan Downing said she carried out resuscitation on Mr Hemingway all the way to Dewsbury District Hospital.

She said they had covered him with a blanket and put him on a board. "Unfortunately the blanket had got caught in the catch which holds the sidebar up," she said.