AN ELDERLY man died from severe head injuries when he fell while he was cutting hedges at his Ringwood home, an inquest heard.

Edward Williams, known as Ted, was on a makeshift raised platform of planks across scaffolding when he fell at his home in Kingston Common, Ringwood. The inquest in Winchester was told the 80-year-old was taken to Royal Bournemouth Hospital on June 18 after his wife raised the alarm. He died two days later.

Lyn Williams, who runs Happy Dogs Rescue, said she saw her husband “dusty and dishevelled” and called for an ambulance after seeing Ted’s grazes.

“He looked pale and could hardly stand up,” she said. “We had a conversation about cutting the hedge; I didn’t want him to do it. He would just do what he always wanted to do.

“He insisted that the hedge be cut and you couldn’t dissuade him really.”

Senior coroner for South Hampshire and the New Forest, Grahame Short, recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Paying tribute to her husband Mrs Williams said: “We just miss him. He left a large hole.”