Aston Villa legend Gary Shaw’s death was the result of him banging his head as he got out of a taxi, an inquest heard.
Shaw had been enjoying a night out drinking with pals. The former footballer was discovered collapsed in the street by a neighbour after he fell and hit his head on a kerb on September 6 this year.
Birmingham Coroners Court heard the Villa icon passed away surrounded by his family 10 days after the accident. The inquest was told Shaw had been for a night out at the Jam House in Birmingham city centre and was put in a taxi by friends at around 1.30am.
But as he got out of the cab, he fell and hit his head on a kerb before being found in the early hours by a neighbour who phoned an ambulance.
The 1982 European Cup winner – regarded as one of Villa’s best forwards in the club’s 150-year history – was taken to the city’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital. However his condition deteriorated and he died ten days later on September 16 this year after suffering a “severe head injury.”
Birmingham Coroner Louise Hunt recorded that Shaw died as a result of an accident. She said: “Mr Shaw had been out for the night drinking with friends on September 5. In the early hours of September 6 and made his way home in a taxi.
“He was found collapsed on the pavement outside his home address having fallen and hit his head. He was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he was found to have a severe head injury as a result of the fall which resulted in his death on September 16.”
At the inquest, Shaw was described as a single man who had been a professional footballer.
Verdict: Accident.
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