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Former daily editor died after Cyprus fall, inquest hears

John HollandA former regional daily editor and newspaper director died after suffering a fall in Cyprus, an inquest has heard.

John Holland, who edited the Birmingham Post and Sandwell Evening Mail, fractured his right hip after tripping on the carpet at his home there.

An inquest into John’s death was heard by South Staffordshire coroner Andrew Barkley following a request from John’s family, Staffordshire Live has reported.

John edited the Evening Mail and went on to the Post in the mid-1980s.  He then served as managing director of Herts and Essex Newspapers from 1992 until 2000, when he retired to Cyprus with his wife.

The inquest heard the 84-year-old was still mobile, enjoying activities including swimming and gardening but, in recent years had become unsteady on his feet.

John, pictured, suffered the fall on 16 November last year and the hearing was told he may not have been able to put his arm out when he fell due to a previous shoulder fracture.

He was taken to hospital in Cyprus where he had surgery but died three days later.

Mr Barkley concluded that he did not know how the fall happened, ruling there was no direct link between the fall, fracture, surgery and John’s death.

The coroner gave a cause of death as cardiopulmonary arrest due to fractured right hip and found John died from complications from a fall.