Man (38) died after falling downstairs

Heavy drinker and smoker Hikmet Yagtu (38), of Cambria Close, Bosham, was on his way upstairs to Daniel Gage's attic room in Essex Road, Bognor when he fell and hit his head on the wall in the landing, an inquest heard.

"I had gone upstairs to unlock the door when I heard a big bang and a crash. I turned around and saw him on the floor below," Mr Gage said.

"I tried to wake him up and couldn't. I thought he had just passed out. I didn't think it was that serious."

Mr Yagtu suffered severe head injuries in the fall in the early hours of April 13 and was taken to St Richard's Hospital in Chichester before being transferred to Southampton General Hospital for surgery.

He was taken back to St Richard's on April 21 but died the following day.

The inquest was told Mr Yagtu, who drank alcohol every night, met Mr Gage at the George and Dragon pub in North Street. Mr Gage worked at the pub.

The men then met up occasionally with friends for a drink.

On the night before his death, Mr Yagtu had been drinking and playing Monopoly on a machine with Mr Gage until closing time.

Upon leaving, Mr Yagtu realised he had missed his last train home and looked for somewhere to stay the night.

Mr Gage offered to let him stay at his house and the two men got a taxi back to Bognor.

After making macaroni cheese, the men made their way up to the attic room.

West Sussex coroner Penelope Schofield recorded a verdict of accidental death.

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