A FORMER welding instructor broke his neck and died after tripping on a hazard in his home, a court heard.

Peter Graham was found deceased at his home address on Stanley Street in Ulverston on December 28 last year.

Cockermouth Coroners’ Court heard Mr Graham was aged 59 at the time of his death.

Ian Martin, a close friend of Mr Graham, who drank sociably with Peter at local pubs around Ulverston, said he last saw him on December 23 when they went for a drink at The Old Friends Inn.

The court heard Mr Martin began to wonder if something was wrong on December 27 after not hearing from Mr Graham since after Christmas.

As a result, he made the decision to check on him at his home address around 11:30 pm on December 27, the court heard.

The court was told Mr Martin obtained entry to Mr Graham’s property from an unlocked door where he then discovered him lying on the floor in the living room.

It comes after Mr Martin had called 101 for advice following hearing his phone ringing from inside the property without any answer, the court heard.

His death was confirmed by paramedics at 00:06 on December 28.

The court was told the paramedics initial assessment was that Mr Graham had been deceased for a number of days following a fall.

Police confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances or any evidence of third-party involvement. Toxicology evidence also showed nothing of relevance, the court heard.

Mr Graham’s brother, Michael, described in a brief pen portrait how Peter appeared to be in good spirits when he last spoke to him and that he was looking forward to seeing the family in the New Year.

He added that his brother enjoyed playing rugby when he was younger and described how he went on to work as a welder in various jobs around the country.

Coroner Robert Cohen said Mr Graham’s home was ‘unquestionably rather small and compact’ and that there were ‘clear hazards from items’ in which could have caused him to trip or fall.

Consequently, Mr Cohen recorded Mr Graham died as a result of a fracture/dislocation of the cervical vertebrae from a fall.

The death was concluded to be accidental.