A devoted elderly couple suffocated each other to death in a freak accident after both of them fell down the stairs and ended up unable to breathe.
John Wood, 67, and his long-term girlfriend Mary Murphy, 66, were found lifeless in Miss Murphy’s home in Failsworth, Greater Manchester, after celebrating her birthday.
The two had returned to Miss Murphy’s home after a visit to a nearby village – her birthday treat – and are thought to have both fallen within minutes of each other at around 4am on April 15.
An inquest into the deaths heard that Mr Wood, a retired maintenance worker, fell over while trying to help Miss Murphy, a former civil servant, to bed.
She then fell while trying to help him with his injuries, possibly tripping on his body. She landed at least partly on top of him.
The two ended up in a position which left both of them unable to breathe, then choked to death.
Heywood Coroner’s Court was told that the two, who had been engaged for 43 years but never married, had been drinking earlier that day in Stalybridge before the fall.
They were discovered the next day by a concerned friend who went into Miss Murphy’s house.
A forensic expert told how Mr Wood’s head was wedged under a radiator and his legs were facing up the stairs. He also had a fractured spine.
Miss Murphy was found on top of him in a similar position. Mr Wood had a pillow under his head and bloodied cloth on his nose, implying that Miss Murphy had tried to help him after the fall.
According to forensic expert Dr Charles Wilson, the two both died of positional asphyxia – a technical term for being stuck in a position where it is impossible to breathe.
Detective Inspector Lewis Hughes of Greater Manchester Police said: ‘John is likely to have been helping Mary to bed when he fell down the stairs. Mary made efforts to treat John’s injuries. Mary has then collapsed herself or fallen over when stepping over him.
‘This is an extremely bizarre albeit tragic incident and our thoughts are with the couples family and friends at what is clearly a very upsetting and distressing time for them.’
Mr Wood’s sister Patricia Brown told the inquest: ‘John had a bubbly personality and was never miserable, he had a cheerful voice and loved spending time with his family.’
Miss Murphy’s cousin, Julie, said: ‘She had a great social life and went out every day.’
She was also a regular worshipper at nearby St Mary’s RC Church in Clive Road, where Priest Father John McKeown described her as ‘very kind and well-liked’.
Father John said: ‘Whatever was going on at church, Mary was part of it. She was well-liked by her neighbours and a very good woman. Mary loved animals – she always had budgies and loved dogs. It is tragic what has happened.
‘Mary wasn’t just a part of the church community, she was part of the wider community in the area. People here will be shattered to hear of it.’
He added: ‘Mary and John had been going out for a while, they didn’t live together but he would visit her in the week, all I know about him is that he lived in Wythenshawe and had a sister.
‘She had fallen over a few times in the last few months and was a big lady with a walking stick. She came to mass every Sunday, she was a devout catholic like her parents and had lived in that house all her life – she knew everyone and everyone knew her.
‘John never came with her to mass, I don’t think he was religious, she would never miss mass on Sundays.
‘The day before they died it was her birthday and John had taken her to Stalybridge for the day, she was so happy and was in very good spirits, he was a good chap always treating her and looking after her.
‘She loved her pet budgie and absolutely doted on him, she loved animals.
‘She was an absolute pleasure, she always helped us here at the church, she loved the community, we are just in shock and so sad that this has happened to her, she was one of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet.’
