A HAMPSHIRE council could be forced to pay out a six-figure compensation fee to the widow of a man who died after a fall.

His widow has said the ruling means she has got "justice" for her husband, who died after a fall at a Southampton City Council-run day care facility.

Jacqueline London took the authority to the High Court, claiming her husband's death was caused by their negligence - and a judge has ruled in her favour, saying the authority "breached its duty" to her husband Geoffrey.

Geoffrey, who suffered from Parkinson's disease and dementia, was waiting to board a minibus at the Sembal House Resource Centre in 2012.

The court heard that the driver was escorting the 64-year-old from Weston into the Handel Terrace centre when he noticed one of the minibus's tail-lift flaps was not lying flat to the ground. he "bent down to adjust it".

As he "bent down to adjust it," an unsupported Mr London "fell heavily" to the ground and was then rushed to Southampton General Hospital for treatment.

The court was told that he needed a total hip replacement the next day, but that "he never fully recovered" from the fall.

He was rushed back to hospital after a heart attack and died ten weeks later.

Mrs Justice May said he had suffered a blockage of the lungs caused by deep vein thrombosis.

Mrs London's barrister, Sheryn Omeri, told the court that his fall was "due to the negligence" of the city council, its employees or agents.

The fall triggered a sequence of events which led to the deep vein thrombosis and 'ultimately his death', she argued.

The council denied blame at the hearing, saying it was an "accident which could not have been prevented", and arguing that the driver was "properly trained and briefed and took all reasonable precautions".

A transportation risk assessment said he was at "high risk of falling" and required someone to be in attendance at all times.

Ruling in favour of Mrs London, Mrs Justice May said "I am satisfied on the balance of probabilities that Southampton City Council breached its duty to Mr London on the day in question".

She added that the deep vein thrombosis that led to Mr London's death was "attributable to the surgery and subsequent immobility caused by the fall".

Mrs Justice May ruled that his wife should receive £18,700 for the pain and suffering her husband endured before his death.

The total amount of compensation due to Mrs London was kept confidential - but may well run into six figures.

Speaking to the Daily Echo after the hearing, 66-year-old Mrs London said: "All I can say is that we got justice for Geoff."

A spokesman for the city council said: “Southampton City Council wrote to Mrs London following the initial incident in 2012 to apologise directly.

"Presently, we are awaiting the full High Court judgement. If this identifies any recommendations for action then we will implement these as soon as possible.

"In terms of compensation, we are not able to disclose these details.”