A LOVING son paid tribute to “the best mum in the world, gone too soon” who died from complications following a fall at their Southampton home.

Margaret Delaney, 78, fell down the stairs of her home in Fritham Road, Shirley on April 28, an inquest head.

Her son, John Hibberd, said: “ I was in bed watching a DVD when she asked me if I wanted a cup of tea.

"She then went to go down stairs and all of a sudden I heard a bang and a scream.

"I went to see what was happening and she was laying at the bottom of the stairs.

"I tried to pick her up, but noticed blood, so I called the emergency services.”

The retired nurse was then taken to Southampton General Hospital where it was revealed that she had broken both her arms and fractured her neck.

Though her bones began to heal, her weakened state lead to her catching pneumonia.

A post-mortem examination confirmed that she had died of hospital -acquired pneumonia on May 28.

Assistant Coroner Sarah Whitby concluded that her death was accidental.