A SOUTHAMPTON woman died after injuring herself in a fall at a care home in Netley.

Daphne Godfrey had a history of falls and had been admitted to The Gables care home in Netley Abbey in June after a fall at her home in Temple Gardens, Woolston, where she had lived for 50 years.

On November 26 the former Cub Scout leader fell in the lounge of the care home while getting up from a chair, hitting her head.

On call carers called an ambulance and tended to a large wound on her head until emergency service arrived.

The retired personal assistant was then taken to Southampton General Hospital were a scan revealed an inoperable bleed on the brain.

The decision was made to give Mrs Godfrey palliative care and on December 22 she was transferred to the Cedar Lodge care home in Camberley to be closer to her family.

On December 30 Mrs Godfrey celebrated her 91st birthday at the home but she died with staff baking her a cake and singing happy birthday to her at her bedside.

She passed away peacefully on January 2.

Her son, Mark Godfrey-James described his mother as a fiercely independent able and active woman, who was a prominent member of Bitterne Parish Church which she attended for many years.

Senior coroner Grahame Short said “I believe Daphne had a full life and was a very capable person.”

He concluded that Mrs Godfrey’s death was the result of an accident.