Inquest rules death was accident

A 43-year-old Whaplode man died after accidentally hitting his head while drunk, an inquest into his death has concluded.

James Le Sage was found dead by a porter at The Woodlands Hotel in Spalding on September 14, 2020, Lincoln Coroner’s Court was told recently.

The inquest heard Mr Le Sage was staying at the hotel while his parents, who he lived with in the family home at Whaplode, were on holiday.

A post mortem revealed he’d suffered a head injury while a toxicology report showed Mr Le Sage had 262 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, equivalent to being over three times the drink drive limit. The inquest heard that Mr Le Sage had a history of alcohol abuse.
Lincolnshire coroner Mr Paul Smith delivered a conclusion of accidental death.

“I’m satisfied on the basis of the police evidence that there was no third party involvement in Mr Le Sage’s death,” he said.

“That being so it seems the most likely explanation for the closed head injury which ultimately caused his death was that of an unwitnessed, and presumed, accidental fall whilst in drink.

“I note that not only was the consumption of alcohol likely to have increased the risk of falls through disorientation and staggered gait, in addition to the long term damage to the deceased’s liver caused by years of alcohol abuse, would have increased his risk of bleeding from a comparatively minor trauma.”