Man killed after putting out bins in horrific Devon storm

An Ivybridge pensioner died in hospital after being blown over by a gust of wind during Storm Darragh. Harold Elford, 93, was putting his rubbish bins out when the wind took him off his feet on 7 December. He was taken to Derriford Hospital, where he died three weeks later on 28 December.

An inquest into Mr Elford’s death, who was born and lived in Ivybridge his whole life and was a retired paper mill dryer, was recently opened at Exeter Coroner's Court.

Senior coroner Philip Spinney said: "The circumstances of the death are that on December 7, Mr Elford was placing his bins for collection outside his property during stormy weather. He was blown to the ground by a gust of wind.

"He managed to alert neighbours and he was conveyed to Derriford Hospital. He developed bronchopneumonia during his admission. Despite treatment he sadly passed away in hospital."

The medical cause of his death was bronchopneumonia caused by a fall resulting in polytrauma and prolonged immobility. A significant contributory factor was advanced frailty and heart disease.

Storm Darragh brought very strong winds to the South Hams and wider areas of England and Wales on December 6 and 7. The highest gusts were 96mph at Berry Head, which recorded its highest December gust speed on record - a 30-year record length.