Celia Adams, 81, died 10 days after falling outside a doctors’ surgery in Denbigh, North Wales, where she was then struck by her son Ian Adams’ Range Rover as he reversed
In a tragic accident, a son accidentally reversed his Range Rover into his mother after she fell outside a doctors’ surgery. She sadly passed away in hospital 10 days later.
Celia Adams, originally from Rossendale and a former shop owner in Rawtenstall, was 81 at the time of the accident and suffered from osteoporosis. She had been taken to a GP surgery in Denbigh, North Wales, for a 9.30am appointment by her son, Ian Adams. He parked in a temporary bay and then guided her around his car, leaving her “steadying” herself on another vehicle.
Unaware of his mother’s position, he got back in the car and reversed into her. Mrs Adams, a great grandmother and retired shopkeeper, was rushed to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. She was later transferred to the Royal Stoke University Hospital where she died 10 days post the accident.
A coroner at an inquest in Ruthin ruled that the death of Mrs Adams, of School Street, Henllan, Denbigh, was accidental. The inquest heard that Mr Adams had driven his mother in his Range Rover to the Bronffynnon surgery in Denbigh on the morning of Tuesday, February 18, last year.
Mr Adams explained that he temporarily parked in one of two GP bays due to their closeness to the entrance. He said he and his mother exited the car and he walked her around it. He left her after she had “steadied herself” on another car, reports Lancs Live.
He then reversed out to find a longer stay space, later stating he had an “obscured view”. He checked for oncoming traffic but collided with Mrs Adams, who had fallen over before the impact with the car, the inquest was told.
Mr Adams informed officers: “I did not feel a bump. I did not hear anything. My sensors did not go off.” Medical staff from the surgery rushed out to assist her whilst emergency services were summoned.
Driver Mark Edwards, who was travelling along Bridge Street near Lenten Pool, stated he didn’t witness the collision itself but spotted Mrs Adams lying partially on the road and partially on the pavement. She was rushed to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd before being moved to the Stoke facility, where she passed away at 3.50pm on February 28 last year.
John Gittins, senior coroner for north Wales east and central, concurred with medical opinion that the cause of death was respiratory failure stemming from multiple rib fractures sustained in a road traffic collision, with frailty being a contributing factor. He explained that whilst several injuries resulted from the collision, Mrs Adams had been living with osteoporosis for a number of years.
He observed that despite undergoing surgery, only a single rib could be “fixed” due to their extreme fragility.
“It’s entirely conceivable that these rib fractures would have led to respiratory failure having been the product of Mrs Adams’ original fall before the vehicle driven by Mrs Adams’ son struck her.”
He ruled the fall was accidental and recorded the cause of death as accidental. The hearing was told that Mrs Adams, a mother-of-three and great-grandmother, hailed originally from Rossendale.
Before venturing into running a Royal Doulton shop in Rawtenstall, she had a career as a bacteriologist. Following the tragic incident, Mrs Adams’ family praised her as an “angel on Earth”, while friends fondly remembered her as the “kindest, sweetest woman”.
In a heartfelt tribute last March, her family expressed: “Celia Adams was not only a wife, mother, sister, grandmother and a great grandmother, she was the glue that held us all together. Celia was a woman of many talents and had one of the biggest hearts. She loved dogs, rescuing and rehoming many over the years. Her home and her company was a safe space for many.
“It breaks our hearts to say that Celia – an angel on Earth – passed away peacefully with her family by her side. As a family we ask that we are left to grieve this tremendous loss together. We have received many kind words and thoughts and are very thankful for the support we have already received. However, this a very difficult time and ask that we grieve peacefully.”
