UPDATED: Sam Kirk's foster brother admits to punch

The foster brother of Sam Kirk has admitted punching the 19-year-old in the face, at an inquest today.

Kyle Allen gave his account of what happened at the ongoing inquest at Derby and South Derbyshire Coroner's Court.

Sam hit his head against a wall and fell to the ground after being punched.

Sam's mother Tracy Higginbottom, along with stepfather David, also gave their accounts.

5% OFF HUMAN HAIR EXTENSIONS - PRINT YOUR VOUCHER TODAY

Beauty Spot Cosmetics (Derby)

View details

Print voucher

Print your voucher and bring into store and claim your discount

Terms: one voucher per transaction

Contact: 01332 418268

Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013

The inquest was adjourned at lunch after hearing the day's evidence and will continue tomorrow.

Yesterday ambulance staff Ian Phillips and Ian Wilson who treated the teenager a week before he died say they were not told "important information" that he had been punched.

Sam died a week later when his life support was turned off.

The pair said when they arrived at Handford Street on July 20, 2010, they were told Sam had overdosed on alcohol and antidepressants but not that he had been punched.

Mr Phillips said: "We were told there had been a little bit of an argument and Sam had been pushed."

When asked by coroner Dr Robert Hunter: "Did anyone present tell you he had been punched or had a head injury or become unconscious immediately after being punched?", Mr Phillips replied: "No."

Mr Wilson said this information would have been "important", because of the action taken when Mr Kirk was admitted to hospital. "Had other information been available they would have treated him for a potential head and spinal injury," said Mr Wilson.

A toxicology report showed that Mr Kirk had not overdosed on anti-depressants. On Monday, the inquest heard the carotid artery leading through Mr Kirk's neck and into his head had ruptured, causing areas of bleeding into his brain.

The inquest continues.

In yesterday's report it was incorrectly stated that Mr Kirk was accidentally dropped from a height of 4ft. It should have read 4in.