A man tragically died of hypothermia after lying in a puddle of freezing cold water for "up to six days".
William Wise, 67, had been unable to raise the alarm after falling as he opened his freezer at his home when the appliance began to defrost.
William was eventually discovered by police who had smashed their way into his Eccleshall home. However, he sadly died a day later as he was being transferred onto a ward at the Royal Stoke University Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent Live writes.
An inquest has heard that William had last been seen six days before he was discovered by police. He was taken to the Royal Stoke on January 14.
A consultant at Royal Stoke told the inquest: "He had hypothermia due to a fall, a long lie, and multiple sclerosis. He was found on the floor by police.
"He was found on January 14 and taken to accident and emergency. He had last been seen six days previously. He had a temperature of 24.2 Celsius."
The human body temperature is normally 37 degrees Celsius.
The consultant continued: "He had multiple pressure sores. Rewarming was commenced with IV fluids. He remained hypothermic."
It is thought that a stroke could have caused the retired lorry driver to fall at his home. The cause of death was given as hypothermia caused by a fall and a long lie contributed to by multiple sclerosis.
Assistant coroner Daniel Howe said: "He was a 67-year-old man. He was discovered at his home address on January 14. He was hypothermic. No cause for the fall was identified. He died as a result of complications following a fall."
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