THE mystery of how a Southampton woman died suddenly in hospital is one step closer to being solved.

Ethel Murray died at Southampton General Hospital of a chest infection and her family will learn the verdict of an inquest into her death on February 11.

Mrs Murray, 80, was taken to the General after collapsing in her garden in Mansell Road, Millbrook.

A diabetes and kidney disease sufferer, she was initially transferred to Royal South Hants Hospital for rehabilitation for a suspected hip fracture following the fall.

But she fell ill two days later and was sent back to the General where she died on August 15, 2010.

The inquest heard she appeared to be stable after tests at both hospitals.

Staff at both hospitals said they were happy with their treatment of Mrs Murray and said there was nothing to suggest her condition would deteriorate so suddenly. The inquest heard both hospitals also conducted reviews of her care but no specific problems were found.