A PUB manager died after being left in a nine-month coma following a fall down the stairs at his home in North Yorkshire.

Andrew Daly, 43, suffered numerous brain injuries when he hit his head after falling down the stairs on March 23, 2017, in Ampleforth, near Thirsk, and remained in a coma until his death on December 17, 2017.

An inquest at Northallerton’s Evolution Centre on Wednesday, July 18, heard that Mr Daly had been drinking heavily during the day at pubs in the area, including the Royal Oak in Nunnington, where he was bar manager.

Landlady of the Royal Oak and girlfriend of Mr Daly, Abigail Greetham, said he had started drinking at lunchtime with friends despite being at work, and said he had been stressed about seeing his brother.

She said despite telling Mr Daly to sober up, he returned at 5.30pm still drunk, and she told him to leave at 8.30pm.

His brother, Nicholas Daly, told the inquest he was living with Mr Daly at the time of the fall.

He said: “Andrew called in at around lunchtime. He was in a good mood despite me telling him I had altered our joint account to put it solely in my name.

Mr Daly said: “I went to bed at around 9pm when I heard the door go, and then I heard a thud. I got out of bed and looked downstairs, Andrew was lying on his back and not moving. Blood was coming out of his ear.”

Mr Daly was taken to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, before being transferred to Goole Neuro Rehabilitation Centre, where he died.

North Yorkshire Police became involved on November 16 last year after Miss Greetham raised concerns over Mr Daly’s head injuries. An investigation found no evidence of anyone else being involved with his death.