AN ELDERLY Clevedon man died after he crashed his car into the wall of his home.

Harold Bridgman, aged 85, from Claremont Court in Park Road, died at Weston General Hospital two days after suffering head and facial injuries in a car accident.

An inquest into his death was held at Flax Bourton Coroner’s Court on Tuesday to determine whether Mr Bridgman had suffered a cardiac event in the car, which led to the crash.

A statement by Sgt David Loat from Avon and Somerset Constabulary, who attended the incident, was read out in court.

In his report, Sgt Loat said: “At midday on August 8, Mr Bridgman manoeuvred his car in the car park of Claremont Court.

“During the manoeuvre, according to his wife, rather than reversing, the car shot forward and collided with the wall.

“From the evidence of the damage to the car it was my opinion that the speed was not high.”

Mr Bridgman was taken to Weston General Hospital where scans showed he had suffered facial fractures and a general head injury. He died on August 10.

A post mortem report stated that it was unclear whether he had experienced a cardiac event but claimed the accident may have been caused by a change in his heart rhythm which is associated with coronary artery disease.

The medical cause of his death was recorded as head injury, pulmonary embolism –deep vein thrombosis - and coronary artery disease.

North Somerset Coroner Maria Voisin recorded a narrative verdict.

Addressing the court, she said: “On August 8, Mr Bridgman had a collision in his car at home.

“He was taken to hospital but died on August 10 due to injuries he sustained in the collision and natural causes.”