Tragedy as a man, 31, dies after tripping and falling on a step outside his door after a night out celebrating his new job, as tributes flood in for the ‘true gentleman loved by so many’
- A man celebrating a new job has died after tripping on a step outside his door
- Alex Murray, 31, had spent the day drinking with friends in Blackburn, Lancashire.
A man celebrating his new job died in a tragic accident after tripping on a step outside his door.
Alex Murray, 31, had spent the day drinking with friends in various pubs in Blackburn, Lancashire, on October 1 last year, before starting a new job at Cleveleys the following Monday.
Assistant coroner Sian Jones returned a conclusion of accidental death.
Alex’s family said he was “loved by all” and tributes poured in for the “true gentleman loved by so many”.
His friend Chris McKenzie said Alex was “a true gentleman who I’m so grateful to have known.”
Alex Murray, 31, (pictured) of Blackburn, died in a tragic accident after tripping on a step outside his door
Alex’s family said he was “loved by all” and tributes poured in for the “true gentleman loved by so many”.
He added that Alex will be missed by many, but I’m sure I can speak for everyone that he will never be forgotten!
TO GoFundMe Page to help with funeral costs which was launched by Alex’s sister, Vanessa, raised over £7,000.
She wrote on the page: ‘This year has given us some bad blows and I need your help. Alex was loved by so many so let’s give him the send off he deserves.
After the investigation, Alex’s sister Vanessa told LancsLive: “He was loved by so many people.”
“Everyone in Blackburn knew him and I was known as Alex’s sister, even though I’m older.”
Alex’s mother added: ‘He was delighted with his new job. He had found out earlier in the week and I can still see his face after receiving the news; He was upbeat all week.
Blackburn’s Moorgate Arms and Fox and Hounds pubs also held a series of fundraisers to help Alex’s family pay for the funeral, including an auction featuring items donated by well-known Blackburn Rovers fan Birdie while
A GoFundMe page to help with funeral costs launched by Alex’s sister Vanessa has raised over £7,000
The inquest heard that Alex left the Moorgate pub at around 1am in the early hours of Sunday 2nd October.
He was seen getting into a taxi with two women on CCTV.
Alex is believed to have visited another pub before he was seen arriving home at 2:40am on CCTV.
At 2:40am a neighbour’s CCTV showed Alex staggering towards his home in Preston New Road, Blackburn.
He disappeared over the side of the house before his devastated mother found him unconscious.
At an inquest at Blackburn Town Hall on Thursday, Lancashire Police Sergeant Chris Birchall, who was one of the first to arrive on the scene, said Alex appeared to have fallen or tripped next to a small step in the garden.
He said: ‘Alex was found lying on the ground with his head on a small step.
It was about two meters from the side door.
“It was not possible to say exactly what happened, but it was potentially a fall.”
There was no evidence of third party involvement in Alex’s death.
A postmortem CT scan revealed that Alex had suffered a small subarachnoid hemorrhage, which is a head injury that causes bleeding into the space surrounding the brain.
He also had a fractured eye socket and toxicology tests found that Alex was intoxicated at the time of his death and there was evidence of recent cocaine use.
Naufel Ansar, neurosurgeon, was consulted to review the evidence and interpret the medical findings.
He concluded that while he couldn’t definitely say that the hemorrhage was the cause of death, it was a possibility.
Coroner’s assistant Sian Jones said: “I am satisfied that he had been drinking and had taken some cocaine, but neither of these were likely to be the direct cause of his death.”
“However, the alcohol affected her mobility and stability and is likely to have caused or contributed to her fall because it would have increased her risk of falling.” I am convinced that what he suffered was a simple accident.