A much-loved dad, 30, died after falling from an attic window while having a cigarette, an inquest has heard. Liam Anyon was leaning out of his friend’s attic window on Galloway Road, Fleetwood, north of Blackpool, for a smoke when the heartbreaking accident occurred.
As smoking inside wasn’t allowed, he would usually “hang out” at this spot, the coroners court was told on Wednesday. On the morning of October 24 last year, Liam was usually found enjoying his cigarette from the top floor’s window.
A neighbour heard a “loud bang”, which she first thought was a car crash. To her horror, she discovered it was Liam lying unconscious, reports Lancs Live. Quickly, Liam was rushed to the Royal Preston Hospital.
After noticing that his pupils were fixed and dilated, a common sign of brain damage, doctors confirmed through a CT scan that he had suffered a severe injury, reports the Mirror.
He was only 30 when he died three days later on October 27. An inquest held at Preston Coroner’s Court learnt that Liam, who worked as a car valet, was indeed “happier than ever” just weeks before the accident took place.
His partner shared that he “had so much to look forward to”. Liam’s neighbour, Amelia, released a statement: “At 11.16am I was sat in the living room and I heard a really loud bang. I initially thought it was a crash.
“I went to the front window and looked out and saw a male led on the floor. He was completely still and not moving.”
Liam’s friend, Sam Scott, had chatted with him less than an hour before his fall. Sam told authorities: “He seemed like his normal self; laughing and having a general conversation. There was nothing out of the ordinary.”
In her personal assurance, Liam’s mum, Susan, mentioned “in the last few weeks he was happier than I’ve ever seen him.”
The mother of Liam’s daughter, Leah Dawe, informed police: “I last saw him over the weekend. He was in a good mood; everything was normal. He had been working all day cleaning cars.”
Detective Inspector Madeleine Park, from Lancashire Police, confirmed that the house had been locked during Liam’s mishap. She found no proof to suggest anyone else was involved.
DI Park further clarified: “When I attended the address, and searched the attic, a window was wide open and there was quite a sizeable ledge underneath it where people used to sit and smoke.”
Area Coroner Chris Long determined a verdict of accidental death and noted: “Liam was probably hanging out of the window having a smoke and he has tragically fallen out of the window and from that he has sustained the injuries which took his life.”
