A 102-year-old dementia patient died after allegedly being shoved from a pub stage when he asked a performing band to lower the volume, an inquest has been told.
Phillip Ormerod, a great-grandfather, was rushed to hospital with serious injuries after falling to the floor at The Crow’s Nest pub in Cwmbran, South Wales, on August 1.
Witnesses at the pub described the centenarian as “lovely” but “confused,” saying he had made his way onto the stage while rock, punk and indie covers band SuperHans were performing.
The widower died 11 days later in hospital, Gwent Coroner’s Court heard during an inquest opening on Monday.
Senior coroner Caroline Saunders said Mr Ormerod had been admitted to hospital after suffering a fractured hip.
Although doctors treated him, his health later “deteriorated,” and he was declared dead on August 12 after nearly two weeks in intensive care at Grange Hospital in Llanfrechfa, Gwent.
Police arrested a 56-year-old man from Llanelli on suspicion of assault in connection with the incident. He has since been released on bail.
Great-grandfather Phillip Ormerod died after he was allegedly “pushed” from the stage at his local pub
Mr Ormerod, a regular at the pub, was said to have asked for the music to be turned down.
Pub regulars said the pensioner wandered onto the stage when Llanelli-based band SuperHans were playing.
They claimed he was shoved away and suffered a fall.
He was then allegedly pushed away, tumbling backwards onto the floor at around 10.25pm.
Details of a post-mortem examination are awaiting further testing, the inquest heard.
Mrs Saunders said the inquest would be held because he suffered an ‘unatural death’.
The coroner said Mr Ormerod, who was born in 1923, previously worked as a design engineer.
He was identified by his son Robert.
A provisional date for an inquest into his death was set in May next year.
The coroner said: ‘The inquest will be formally suspended until those criminal investigations have been concluded.’
Great-grandfather Phillip would visit the pub two or three times a week by walking the half-a-mile there and have drinks bought for him by younger pubgoers.
Phillip was a toolmaker during the Second World War and later joined the merchant navy before a career as a design draftsman.
Robert Ormerod previously said he wanted justice for his father, who he described as a popular character who young people would buy beer for when he visited the bar.
Mr Ormerod’s son, Robert (pictured) said his father was a ‘bit of a character’ at the pub
The retired civil engineer said: ‘What happened is not nice. The pub has changed a lot over the years. It has become a youngster’s pub.
‘Me and my brother would visit our father regularly and clean the house.
‘His eyesight had deteriorated and he had been diagnosed with dementia two or three years ago.
‘He could be difficult with having dementia. He walked to the pub two or three times a week.
‘He was a beer drinker and I suppose some people saw him as a bit of a character at his age.’
Robert said he grew up in the home where his father lived since 1960.
Father-of-two Phillip had lived at the property alone since his wife died 40 years ago.
Son Robert added: ‘It has changed a lot since I grew up here and of course a lot of my father’s generation are no longer here.’
He added: ‘We just hope for some justice.’
Locals said the ‘lovely’ but ‘confused’ elderly victim was a regular in the pub near the home where he lived independently and had held his 100th birthday celebration there.
The Crow’s Nest called on anyone in the pub at the time to contact police.
Gwent Police and Welsh Ambulance Service were called to The Crow’s Nest in Cwbran on August 1
In a statement, the pub said: ‘The Crow’s Nest is aware of the tragic circumstances surrounding the death of a gentleman connected with recent events.
‘As this is a police matter, we will not be commenting further on the details of the incident at this time.
‘Anyone who witnessed the incident or may have relevant information is asked to contact the police directly.
‘Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family, friends and all those affected by this sad loss.
The victim was born in 1924 when George V was on the throne and Ramsay McDonald was the first ever Labour Prime minister.
The pub is well known for its music with regular karaoke and live bands on the weekend.
Band SuperHans were playing on the night in question – and have since taken down their Facebook page.
READ MORE: Pictured: Dementia-sufferer, 102, who died after being ‘pushed off stage’ at pub after asking band to turn music down
