A GRANDMOTHER died after falling about five feet onto rocks while playing with her grandchild at a beach hotel in Thailand.

Sheila Simpson, of Sedgefield, County Durham, is believed to have tripped or fallen on unfenced decking at the hotel in the remote Phi Phi Islands where she was holidaying with her family.

An inquest on yesterday heard the 68-year-old had flown to the country with her husband Derek Simpson last month to visit her daughter, son-in-law and grandchild.

The family travelled to Phuket, a province off the western shores of Thailand, where they stayed for three days before getting the ferry to Phi Phi.

On Saturday, April 15, the family got a two-hour ferry and in the evening attended a fire-eating display on the beach.

Coroner’s officer Charlotte Peacock told the court in Crook she understood the family were on the decking of a small hotel.

The family were staying at a different hotel and could not remember the name of the hotel where they watched the display, the court heard.

Ms Peacock said: “Mrs Simpson had been playing with her grandchild after on what was described as decking where sunbathers would normally be, and just underneath the decking was a rocky area.

“The family have heard screaming then looked and Mrs Simpson has fallen onto the rocks beneath.

“The family described it (the decking) possibly being about four to five feet from the rocks.”

Two trained paramedics assisted in the aftermath before Mrs Simpson was transferred initially to a nearby medical centre then by speed boat to Phuket where she was admitted to Bangkok Hospital Phuket.

Senior assistant coroner for County Durham and Darlington, Crispin Oliver, heard the family were told there was no treatment for the grandmother.

She died seven days later on Saturday, April 22, after having never fully regained consciousness.

Mr Oliver said the medical cause of death recorded on the death certificate from Bangkok Hospital Phuket was cerebral haemorrhage as a result of a fall from a height - a cause accepted by the family.

Mrs Simpson had consumed one cocktail but alcohol was not considered to be a factor in causing her death.

Recording the death as being a result of a tragic accident, Mr Oliver said: “I hope the family gets some closure and could my best wishes be conveyed to them.”

The court heard the family decided in the circumstances not to attend the hearing as they had found the matter “very upsetting”.