Centenarian died after leg operation

A CENTENARIAN died in hospital on New Year's Eve after breaking his leg two days before.

Claude Brann, 102, from Robertsbridge, was found lying on his kitchen floor by a family friend on December 29.

A post mortem revealed Mr Brann was in the early stages of acute bronchitis and there was also a slight hardening of his arteries. These, combined with the aftermath of the operation on his broken leg, was the likely reason he died.

But Mr Brann's son Peter was not happy.

He said: "I'm surprised at the bronchitis being a cause. I would have thought if he was in hospital that he could have been treated."

Family friend Isla Cross found Mr Brann at his home in Staplecross at around noon.

She said: "He had been getting his breakfast when he tripped. In an instant I realised his leg was fractured."

Paramedics took Mr Brann to Conquest Hospital in Hastings where he died two days later.

Coroner Alan Craze recorded a verdict of accidental death.