Bridgnorth man's fall during night out led to his death the next day

Adam Scott Gulliver died at his friend's flat in Mill Street, Bridgnorth, the morning after enjoying a night out.

The inquest, which took place at Shirehall in Shrewsbury, was told that on returning from a night out Mr Gulliver had fallen back while travelling up the stairs to friend Michael Hood's flat.

Mr Hood told the hearing: "Suddenly I heard a large thud and it was Adam, he had fallen back as he had lost his balance." Mr Gulliver was helped inside the flat and went to sleep in Mr Hood's lounge.

He woke up the next morning and was in the bathroom before Mr Hood had to go to work.

But when Mr Hood returned home from work hours later, Mr Gulliver was found dead in the bathroom.

Senior coroner for Shropshire Mr John Ellery questioned whether the fall the night before contributed to a fractured skull he suffered.

Dr H Abdel Salam, consultant pathologist at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, who carried out a post mortem examination on Mr Gulliver found the cause of his death to be head injuries due to a fall.

Mr Ellery concluded Mr Gulliver's death was accidental but he said he believed the fall the night before had contributed to what had happened in the bathroom the next day.

He said: "What happened in the bathroom was a consequence of the fall, and that was seven hours later. It was the fall on the stairs that caused the damage."

Shortly after his death, on July 18, tributes were paid to Mr Gulliver, who was known as Gully to his friends.

He had moved from Southampton to Highley when he was nine before settling in Lodge Lane, Bridgnorth.

His mother Kim Cook said: "Adam was so special and a much-loved son. Throughout his life he was gentle, loving and respectful to everyone."

Mr Gulliver attended Highley Primary School, Oldbury Wells School and sixth form in Bridgnorth and went on to study sports and business management at Manchester.