AN 83-YEAR-OLD man who died 12 days after falling down the stairs of his Derby home was suffering from severe heart disease, an inquest heard.

Galib Kukic, of Valley Road, Littleover, was taken to Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, now known as the London Road Community Hospital, on February 25.

He was treated for chest injuries caused by the fall but died on March 9 from a heart attack, unrelated to his earlier accident.

Dr Andrew Hitchcock, who carried out the postmortem examination, said Mr Kukic's heart was almost three times the normal weight and that he could have suffered a heart attack at any time.

He said: "Examination showed that Mr Kukic suffered a large heart attack, which probably started a few days before his death.

"Although he sustained a severe blow to his chest, his death was as a result of the heart attack and was due to trauma. His death could have occurred at any time, irrespective of a fall."

Dr Hitchcock added that the fall may have been caused by fainting.

Mr Kukic's wife, Velida, attended the inquest, at Derby and South Derbyshire Coroner's Court.

She described her husband as a "proud man" who disliked using a stick to walk. Assistant deputy coroner Paul McCandless recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.