A PENSIONER suffering from senile dementia died after falling from an open first floor window at a care home, an inquest heard this week.

Cyril Charles Wilson, 84, was found lying on the ground by staff outside the Chalfont Lodge Nursing Home, in Denham Lane, Chalfont St Peter, the High Wycombe hearing was told on Wednesday.

Nurse Elizabeth Lay told the inquest jury that she saw Mr Wilson, a retired fork-lift driver from Stoke Poges, lying curled up on his side after being alerted by another elderly patient at about 7pm, on June 2, last year.

She explained how the injured Mr Wilson told her: "I followed a man out and then he disappeared and he has left me like this."

Mr Wilson was rushed to Wycombe Hospital but died from his injuries later the same day. He had suffered a fractured pelvis and left hip.

Dr Richard Foskett, Mr Wilson's GP, told the inquest that although his patient was "physically robust" he had little understanding of his whereabouts and was disorientated in terms of time due to metal frailty.

The Health and Safety Executive launched an investigation as to why and how the window at the home was left open.

The investigation found that the locking device, which prevented the window from being opened, had become worn and had come off but it is not clear how the window came to be open.

The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

Buckinghamshire Coroner Richard Hulett said Mr Wilson was a "confused man".