Pensioner, 87, dies after being blown off her feet by helicopter after hospital visit

11 November 2024, 14:47

A pensioner has died after being blown over by a helicopter during a hospital visit.

Jean Langan, 87, was leaving a hospital in Plymouth after having a hearing aid fitted and was walking with her niece back to their car when the search and rescue helicopter descended.

Mrs Langan was knocked off her feet by the helicopter's 'downwash', suffering serious head injuries and dying soon afterwards.

Her niece was also blown onto the floor by the helicopter.

Retired senior coroner Ian Arrow told an inquest jury at Exeter Coroner's Court that Mrs Langan was a retired civil servant.

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He said: "This inquest concerns the death of Mrs Jean Langan at Derriford Hospital on March 4 2022.

"Shortly before her death, Mrs Langan was in the hospital car park. A search and rescue helicopter carrying a patient was coming into land at the nearby hospital helipad.

"Mrs Langan was blown over by the downwash, that is the fast moving air that was created by the helicopter landing."

Mr Arrow said the incident had been investigated by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), which published a report.

He told jurors that they would not be investigating matters the AAIB had already examined, meaning there would be no evidence from witnesses concerning when Mrs Langan was injured.

The coroner read a statement provided by Mrs Langan's family, who attended the hearing which began at Devon County Hall in Exeter on Monday.

They described their shock at her "sudden and violent death" and said Mrs Langan was an important part of their family.

"She had always been there for all of our lives," they told the inquest. "The violent manner of her death has affected us all. She would have hated the publicity that the circumstances surrounding her death have generated.

"As a result, she lost the quiet dignity that she would have chosen."

The statement described how Mrs Langan "doted" on the children in her family, including her three grandchildren.

It said she had lived in her home for more than 30 years, following her retirement from the Civil Service where she was renowned for her "efficiency".

"She was always on the go," Mrs Langan's family said, describing her as an expert knitter who walked the family's dog every day.

"Jean was elderly and we knew that one day we would lose her. However, the manner of her death has affected us immensely. Jean was doing nothing wrong."

The inquest jury watched CCTV footage from the hospital car park, which showed people walking next to the wall of the helipad.

They were seen falling to the ground as the search and rescue helicopter came into land on the helipad.

Dr Amanda Jeffery, a Home Office pathologist, told the inquest that Mrs Langan sustained "significant" head injuries.

She said: "Mrs Langan had attended a routine audiology appointment at Derriford Hospital with her niece and was returning to their parked car when a helicopter came into land.

"Mrs Langan was swept off her feet, causing her to fall backwards on to the ground."

Dr Jeffery said Mrs Langan died about three and a half hours after the incident, with the medical cause of her death given as a head injury.

The inquest, which is due to last for five days, continues.