A tragic incident unfolded as a football enthusiast lost his life in a mishap while attempting to hang a Union flag on a lamppost, an official inquiry revealed. Paul John Lumber, a 61-year-old painter and decorator, ventured out to display flags near his residence on Duckmoor Road in Bristol following a football game. Witnesses reported hearing a loud noise and discovering Mr. Lumber on the ground with his ladder nearby on the evening of November 22 last year.
After the fall, Mr. Lumber was rushed to Southmead Hospital where he underwent surgery. Despite medical efforts, his condition worsened, leading to his passing on December 6, as disclosed in the proceedings at Avon Coroner’s Court.
During the inquiry overseen by Dr. Simon Fox KC, assistant coroner for Avon, it was determined that the death of Mr. Lumber was accidental. Dr. Fox stated, “Mr. Lumber tragically fell from a ladder while attaching a Union Jack flag to a lamppost at night after consuming alcohol.”
In a statement read during the inquest by coroner’s officer Andrew Eastwood, it was confirmed that Mr. Lumber resided in Bristol and was a native of the city. Known for his avid support of Bristol City FC, Mr. Lumber authored two books detailing his involvement in football, focusing on the subject of football hooliganism under the titles “It All Kicked Off In Bristol.”
Dr. Richard Moon from the neurosurgery department at Southmead Hospital reported that Mr. Lumber sustained severe head injuries, including a skull fracture, from the fall. Despite undergoing two surgical interventions, Mr. Lumber succumbed to his injuries, with the cause of death attributed to traumatic brain injury and the fall.
Mr. Eastwood revealed in a statement that Mr. Lumber’s wife, Michelle, informed him that her husband had been watching a football match and had consumed alcohol before the incident. Upon returning home and taking his work ladder from his van, Mr. Lumber met with the unfortunate accident that led to his demise.
Neighbors alerted emergency services upon hearing the commotion and finding Mr. Lumber injured on the ground. Paramedics’ reports indicated that Mr. Lumber had set out from his home to hang flags around the neighborhood.
Following the incident, Mr. Lumber’s family expressed satisfaction with the care provided. Remembered fondly by close friends as a dedicated supporter of Bristol City and England, Mr. Lumber was described as someone whose life revolved around his loved ones.