A WOMAN died after slipping on a grape at till 13 of a Hampshire superstore.

Maureen Jarvis, 68, broke her right leg in the fall and later died of medical complications, an inquest has been told.

Mrs Jarvis appeared to be slowly recovering but suffered a fatal pulmonary embolism nearly four months later at her home in Selborne Avenue, Harefield, Southampton, on July 10 last year.

Her son Wayne Jarvis told the inquest in Winchester that he had taken his mother for her weekly shop at Tesco in Bursledon on March 23.

He said he grew worried when she failed to appear afterwards and then saw her being pushed in a wheelchair. "She said I slipped on a grape and my leg hurts'."

Mr Jarvis, of Burke Drive, Thornhill, Southampton, added: "She said the lady came over and wiped the grape from her shoe with a tissue. She said she felt like they wanted her out of the shop."

With difficulty, Mr Jarvis got her home, but the pain continued and an ambulance was called. A spiral fracture of the right leg was diagnosed at Southampton General Hospital. She was discharged the following day.

Tesco general assistant Ruth Amber told the inquest she had helped Mrs Jarvis but could remember nothing else about the incident.

Mrs Amber, of New Cliffe Gardens, Hedge End, said Tesco first aiders were taught to call an ambulance if in doubt about the seriousness of injuries sustained in store but she said she felt one was not needed.

Asked about the system for dealing with dropped grapes, Mrs Amber said: "We have cleaners going around all the time. But grapes are mischievous little things, they get everywhere. If cleaners are not available, we do it ourselves."

She added: "I don't know where it came from. A customer, probably.

Mick Hillier, Mrs Jarvis' partner of 25 years, said her death had come as a shock. In the few days beforehand she had regained more mobility and been able to climb the stairs at home. She never complained about pain. She was the ideal partner.

Mr Hillier said: "She was watching Big Brother on TV. I said I was off to bed and expected her to follow when the programme finished.

"I was lying in bed and I heard a bang, a thud in the bathroom. I thought the cat had knocked over a shampoo bottle. I went in there and Maureen was lying on the floor. The paramedics came with their resus gear but it was too late."

The inquest opening heard the cause of death was pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis and leg injury.

Medical evidence about her treatment has still to be heard.

The inquest was adjourned to a future date.

Grahame Short, central Hampshire coroner, apologised for the adjournment and explained there had been a mix-up with two doctors. One is on honeymoon, the inquest heard.

See today's Daily Echo for the full story.