Silver screen star Jean Kent was found next to her bed with a television stand on top of her, an inquest into her death has heard.

Miss Kent, 92, whose married name is Joan Mildred Hurst, died at West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds on November 30 last year following a fall at her home in the village of Westhorpe, near Bacton.

The inquest into her death was held today at the Active Business Centre in Bury St Edmunds.

Coming to a narrative conclusion, Coroner Dr Peter Dean said: “She died from accidental injury from a fall occurring against a background of significant pre-existing cardiac disease which may have precipitated it.”

Miss Kent, who was married to Jusuf, was found by her housekeeper Rita Betts on the morning of November 28.

In a report by Detective Sergeant Ann Naylor, who carried out the police investigation, she said Ms Betts had been her housekeeper for more than 15 years and attended the address every morning.

She arrived at about 8.15am, letting herself in the back door with her own key. After carrying out some cleaning she went to ascertain if Miss Kent was about. The inquest heard it was not unusual for her to lie in bed and watch television in the morning.

“It was at this stage she went into the bedroom,” Dr Dean said. “The bedroom door was closed, but she knocked and entered and Miss Kent was found on the floor with the TV stand on the upper right-hand side of her body.”

Paramedic Kevin Breitsprecher, who attended the address, had noted there had been a TV close to her.

He said it appeared she had been on the floor for some time and she seemed “confused”.

Dr Sheila Purdy, who carried out the post-mortem examination, gave the cause of death as 1a blunt force chest injury with contributory factors in part 2 of severe coronary atherosclerosis.

She said the fall may have been caused by a cardiac event or arrhythmia.

Miss Kent’s GP, Dr Yager of Botesdale Health Centre, said she had had some problems with general mobility and had previously been referred for a falls assessment.

The inquest heard there were no signs of any disturbance at Miss Kent’s home and police found no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.