A BULLET wound from the Second World War could be one of the factors which caused pensioner Alfred Randle to fall to his death down a flight of stairs, an inquest heard.

Mr Randle, 81, of Treacher's Close, Chesham, fell backwards at his home after drinking a 'good measure' of whisky before going to bed on November 17 last year.

On Wednesday, Mr Randle's son Raymond, of Lower Road, Chalfont St Peter, told Buckinghamshire Coroner's Court how his father received a gunshot wound to the leg when he was serving as a corporal in the British Army in Italy.

Mr Randle, 50, said: "My dad was shot while he was on night patrol in Italy. My dad lay in no-man's land for a day before he was rescued and taken to hospital."

Mr Randle believed the old war injury to be a possible cause of the fall which led to his father's death.

He said: "My dad had fallen over a few times before, and I know that his leg flared up from time to time. He only had a drink at night time, but he always poured himself a good measure of whisky."

Coroner Richard Hulett said: "Mr Randle was found at the bottom of the stairs so it is likely he fell back down the stairs after locking up the house at night."

Dr Michael Turner, consultant pathologist at Wycombe Hospital, conducted the post-mortem and said: "Mr Randle had a bruise at the back of his head and a fracture of the skull."

The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.

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