A 60-year-old Cleator Moor woman died in hospital in Carlisle more than three weeks after sustaining 'terrible injuries' after falling down stairs in her home.

Janette Winward, of Ruskin Place, died in the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle on July 21, 2024.

Ms Ruskin was admitted to the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven on June 29, after falling down stairs at her home at around 10pm the previous evening.

Her partner, who was present at the scene and in Cockermouth Coroner's Court, said that she fell backwards down 11 stairs.

She declined an ambulance, instead asking him to help her go upstairs to bed.

He said that she 'couldn’t settle' throughout the night, moving 'every five or ten minutes', due to pain, and around 8am asked for an ambulance to be called.

A CT scan showed that Ms Winward had sustained multiple rib fractures on her left and right side, her spine, and her neck.

A statement submitted to the court by a doctor in Carlisle said she woke up in 'severe pain'.

Ms Winward was transferred to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle for 'neurosurgery input', and then transferred to the Cumberland Infirmary for further management on June 29.

Assistant coroner for Cumbria, Margaret Taylor, heard in the statement that she required oxygen for respiratory failure, and was placed in intensive care.

On July 1, her condition worsened, and was transferred to the RVI.

Clinicians opted against surgery, and advised Ms Winward’s family he had a 'life-threatening' chest injury, transferring her back to Carlisle on July 5.

READ MORE: Tragic discovery of 'vulnerable' missing man by dog walker on beach - inquest

Ms Winward developed hospital-acquired pneumonia, continued to deteriorate, prompting surgeons to carry out a tracheostomy on July 19.

The tracheostomy was 'complex', due to Ms Winward’s 'significant co-morbities', with various cardiac issues, and type-2 diabetes mellitus.

The doctor's statement said that on July 20 her condition worsened further, going into multi-organ failure.

They explained to Ms Winward's family that she had made 'not much improvement' in three weeks, her prognosis was poor, and she was 'unlikely to survive'.

READ MORE: Former market hall trader who 'lived life to the full' died from head injury

After discussions with family members, the decision was made to place Ms Winward in 'comfort care', and she passed away just before 8am on July 21.

Ms Taylor accepted the cause of death offered of pneumonia, caused by a fall downstairs, and concluded that Ms Winward's death was accidental.

She explained that the 'terrible injuries' Ms Winward sustained, particularly her broken ribs, made her more susceptible to infection as her chest 'couldn’t expand properly'.

Ms Taylor said: "She died surrounded by those who loved her in hospital."

A family statement said she was a 'very creative person', and once had a candlemaking business in Cleator Moor.

It said: "She loved music and had great knowledge of most artists, their songs, and the years they were formed.

"She took great pride in her cooking.

"She was loved very much and is so sadly missed."