Edward Sidgwick, a father of triplets, tragically died after falling down stairs during a “lads and dads” golfing trip at a luxury hotel. The 53-year-old was looking for his room at the Dunston Hall hotel near Norwich, Norfolk when the accident occurred. Edward had been enjoying a day of golf with his son, brother, nephews, and friends before heading back to their rooms to prepare for dinner. After being refused service at the hotel bar due to intoxication, Edward decided to return to his bedroom at the 19th-century hotel.
Edward was found unconscious on the stairs by members of his group and paramedics were called. He was declared dead at the scene and the cause of death was determined to be a traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage associated with a skull fracture due to a severe traumatic head injury. Excessive alcohol intake was cited as a secondary cause of death. Norfolk Police investigated the incident and found CCTV footage showing Edward appearing to be able to walk reasonably well before the fall. The footage showed him using the lift multiple times and eventually taking the stairs where he likely stumbled and struck his head.
The inquest revealed that Edward was more than three times over the drink-drive limit at the time of his death. Coroner Christopher Leach recorded a verdict of alcohol-related death, stating that Edward’s fatal head injury was likely due to the fall and that high alcohol levels contributed to the accident. Edward’s wife, Joanna, paid tribute to him, describing him as a dedicated family man and a hands-on dad. She spoke of his love for family time and unwinding with the dog, rugby, and a beer in their garden bar room. The tragic incident occurred during a family event where Edward was enjoying time with loved ones.
The hotel had no CCTV on the upper floors, so it remains unclear where exactly Edward fell. It is believed that he had been unsure of the location of his room and had initially taken a lift upstairs before realizing his room was on the ground floor. The police report suggested that Edward stumbled down the stairs and hit his head on a corner wall, leading to his fatal injury. Edward’s son, Robert, spoke at the inquest about the family’s golf tour and the enjoyable day they had all spent together. The group was devastated by Edward’s sudden death and remembered him as a loving and proud family man. The tragic accident serves as a reminder of the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption and the importance of being cautious, especially in unfamiliar surroundings.
