A pensioner who was knocked down by a car died a month later after suffering a massive blood clot.
Now an inquest into Richard Rowan’s death has been adjourned after a coroner demanded a comprehensive summary of the treatment he received in hospital following the accident.
The inquest in Leeds yesterday heard the 64-year-old, of Wrenbeck Drive, Otley, was knocked down on Pool Bank New Road, in Pool-in-Wharfedale, in March 2012.
Despite suffering multiple injuries, Mr Rowan, a retired tax inspector, was not thought to be in serious danger.
His family were preparing to bring him home when he became critically ill and died on April 29.
A post-mortem examination showed he had suffered a massive clot in his leg, blocking the arteries leading to the lungs.
Deputy Coroner Melanie Williamson had been due to give her verdict on Mr Rowan’s death yesterday, (March 5) but was forced to adjourn the inquest because she did not have documents showing exactly what measures had been taken to avoid clotting before he died.
She said: “I’m extremely perturbed, if not cross, that I have not received this bundle of documents.
“It has made things incredibly difficult.”
The inquest heard Mr Rowan, a father of two and grandfather of three, was on his way to the Dyneley Arms pub at Pool Bank when he was hit by Alan Wagstaff’s Skoda car on the morning of March 28, 2012.
Mr Wagstaff was thought to have been driving between 20mph and 30mph, well within the speed limit.
Mr Rowan’s injuries included a broken shoulder and pelvis, a hernia, a twisted stomach and spleen damage.
He was taken by air ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary and had operations on his shoulder and pelvis, but then lost a significant amount of weight and was transferred to St James’s Hospital on April 28.
He suddenly deteriorated and died the following day.
In a statement, Mr Rowan’s widow, Lynette, said: “It was a huge shock.
“We had been told he had no life-threatening injuries and were preparing for him to come home.”
The inquest is unlikely to resume for several months.