Stretford: Dad who fell from tower died due to 'misadventure'

William Erskine, or Billy, was discovered dead outside Stretford House on August 26 last year, days ahead of his 48th birthday.

Earlier Mr Erskine attended the Manchester United and Nottingham Forest match at Old Trafford, then one of his local pubs, and he consumed a combination of alcohol and drugs during the day.

At Stockport Coroners' Court this week, area coroner Chris Morris heard how he was in an altercation with his partner Sarah Doyle after she picked him up and returned him to Stretford House.

Ms Doyle said: "He sang Manchester United songs and I told him to be quiet. 

"There was an argument inside the lift and inside the property so I went home."

Mr Erskine sent a number of voicenotes on WhatsApp in which he threatened to throw himself out of a window but his partner said it was not uncommon for him to threaten to do this. Mr Erskine fell from the 16th floor of the tower block a matter of minutes later.

He was able to do so because the window at the tower block was able to open to 360 degrees, something which was a cause for concern for the area coroner Mr Morris, as he asked questions of housing association L&Q's head of health and safety Steve Pettit.

Mr Pettit said: "There is the option for window restrictors but it would come from the health and safety rating system assessments. 

"The last assessment was last year and there was no risk of falling identified in the last assessment so no work was recommended."

According to building regulations there is no need for window restrictors in high-rise buildings although these building regulations are understood to be under review.

The area coroner said he would write a Report to Prevent Future Deaths to the Secretary of State about this issue after the inquest.

Mr Pettit said: "We have to deal with a lot of requirements so we cannot deal with everything.

"If it is something which puts people at risk we take steps but this does not apply in this case."

In the absence of any suspicious circumstances, Mr Morris said he was unable to come to the conclusion it was an accident or a suicide due to the lack of evidence.

As a result of the role of alcohol and drugs in the death, Mr Morris came to the conclusion the death was due to "misadventure". 

He said: "Mr Erskine died on August 26 on the concourse of Stretford House as a result of the injures sustained when he fell from the window of his 16th-floor flat. His judgment was impaired after alcohol use and drug use and after an altercation with his partner."

He said: "I am sorry to read the tragic way in which you have lost him. You have my condolences at what must be a terrible time."

Previously, in a tribute to her partner, Ms Doyle said: "He was a great dad and a great grandad. He loved his family and his friends. 

"He was Manchester United mad and he travelled the world with them. The football lads were his life. He was an amazing guy."

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.