Dorothy Gamby

I am: Melanie Sarah Lee Assistant Coroner Inner North London Poplar Coroner’s Court 127 Poplar High Street London E14 0AE

On 2 May 2025 an investigation into the death of Dorothy Gamby age 100 years. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 8 May 2025. The medical cause of death was 1a. pneumonia 1b.  fractured neck of femur (operated 22 April 2025). I made a  determination at inquest of accident.

Dorothy Gamby was 100 years old. On 22 April 2025 she suffered a fall at home when she stood on the wide claw shaped rubber ferrule that  she had attached to the bottom of her foldable walking stick. This  caused the stick to pull apart and the collapsible mechanism to activate  when she pulled the stick up (the bottom section of the stick being held  down by her foot on the ferrule). When she fell, she sustained fractures  to her right hip and right wrist, and a small subarachnoid haemorrhage.  On 22 April she underwent surgery for her hip fracture. Post-operatively she developed progressive hypoxia and Type 2 respiratory failure,  secondary to known COPD. A chest xray on 25 April showed  pneumonia which was treated with antibiotics. Despite this she  continued to deteriorate, and given her frailty and co-morbidities, her  care switched to palliative care and she died at the Whittington Hospital on 30 April 2025.

During the course of the inquest, the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern. In my opinion, there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken. In the circumstances, it is my statutory duty to report to you. The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows. Wide and clawed ferrules for walking sticks are widely available. They are described as providing stability, support, improved safety, ease of movement, etc. I am concerned that there is no warning that they may pose a risk if stood on or trapped when used on folding/collapsible walking sticks.

In my opinion, action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe that you and/or your organisation have the power to take such action.