A woman suffered a fatal head injury as she was leaving the West Suffolk Hospital, an inquest has heard.

Marie Raven, 72, had been visiting her husband at the hospital in Hardwick Lane, Bury St Edmunds on May 11 when she fell down steps leading to the car park at the

front of the building.

The inquest on Friday at Suffolk Coroners Court in Ipswich was told how staff from the accident and emergency department rushed to Mrs Raven’s assistance after being alerted by her daughter.

In a statement, Joanne Green said her mother did not shout out or scream as she fell backwards down the steps before landing halfway down.

A scan revealed that Mrs Raven, of Flemyng Road, Bury St Edmunds, had suffered a head injury causing bleeding on the brain and she was treated at the intensive

care unit before her condition deteriorated and she died on May 18.

The cause of Mrs Raven’s death had been given as traumatic head injury, said Senior Suffolk Coroner Nigel Parsley.

The inquest heard how Mrs Raven, a retired care worker, had been to visit her husband Brian who was being treated at the hospital on what was her daughter’s birthday.

Mrs Green described her mother as a “social butterfly” who was outgoing and fun loving despite having been diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer.

CCTV images from the hospital’s security cameras did not show the actual fall but did show Mrs Raven and her daughter walking towards the steps.

Mr Parsley said a health and safety investigation instituted by the hospital had concluded that the steps were in good condition, were fitted with an anti-slip surface and posed no hazard.

Recording a narrative conclusion, Mr Parsley said: “Marie Raven died as a result of a fall on a set of steps outside West Suffolk Hospital.

“Whether the fall was the result an accident or slip or whether Mrs Raven suffered a medical episode cannot be established on the available evidence.”