Antiques trader Ben Holden died of severe head injuries after fall in Lymington, Winchester coroner rules
A MUCH-LOVED antiques trader died of severe head injuries after falling off the steps at his business premises, a coroner has ruled.
Ben Holden, who ran Elephant Antiques at Gordleton Farm Industrial Estate in Lymington, was rushed to Southampton General Hospital by paramedics after the fall on 14th February last year.
Despite undergoing surgery to relieve a build up of pressure caused by a bleed on his brain, Mr Holden (43), of Priestlands Road, Pennington died of his injuries on 17th February.
At an inquest in Winchester, coroner Christopher Wilkinson read a statement from Ben’s partner Suzi describing him as “one of the kindest souls” you could ever meet.
“He was always helping people and putting others before himself,” she said. “He was a great father to three boys and music was a huge part of his life.”
Before trading antiques, Ben had designed sound systems for nightclubs around the world.
On the day before his fall, he had called the Tate Modern gallery on behalf of an artist friend who he felt should have been nominated for a Turner Prize.
Ben’s mother Niamh described him as a “completely unique, wonderful man” and his sister Emily tearfully told the court they were “incredibly” close.
In a report to the coroner, Ben’s GP said he was “largely fit and well” but had suffered an alcohol related seizure in 2018. Ben later suggested to the doctor he had stopped drinking after this episode.
The inquest heard Ben was involved in a single vehicle road collision on 13th February last year after his black Mercedes 4x4 left Milford Road in Barton and crashed into a ditch.
Ben told a police officer who attended the scene his partner was driving the vehicle, although the person who reported the collision to the police said she had seen Ben driving alone.
Despite providing a negative breath test for alcohol to the officer, Ben was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and taken to a police station. The inquest heard Ben had not seemed to suffer any injuries in the crash.
Ben was released from custody in the early hours of 14th February and it was suggested to the coroner he went to work later that day without any sleep.
In a witness statement, Oliver Pilley told the inquest he was passing by Elephant Antiques around 3pm that day when he saw Ben, stood on the steps outside, “curl” his hand to his chest before falling backwards and striking his head on the ground.
Mr Pilley said he ran to Ben’s aid after what seemed to be the first of three seizures and found a “large laceration” on the back of his head.
Paramedics were called to the scene, and Ben suffered two further seizures by the time an ambulance arrived and took him to hospital.
Members of Ben’s family questioned why the first paramedic on the scene had to later call for an ambulance, with the coroner suggesting the seriousness of Ben’s condition was not clear at first.
The inquest heard Ben’s partner told medics he had started drinking again recently and was now “alcohol dependent”.
Ben had also admitted drinking that morning, before his fall, and had started keeping alcohol at work.
Ben’s sister Emily said she was the last person to speak to Ben before his death and that he did not sound like he had been drinking.
Despite a successful surgery to relieve pressure on his brain, doctors found Ben had suffered a fractured skull and was still haemorrhaging internally before consulting his family over his final wishes.
The inquest heard Ben would not have wanted to live with serious brain damage and the family decided to allow doctors to withdraw treatment.
A post mortem later showed Ben was in relatively good health despite evidence of “evolving cirrhosis”.
Recording a verdict of accidental death, the coroner extended “very sincere” condolences to the family.
He added: “To be robbed of his life under such circumstances will take much longer to get over. I have no doubt he will be remembered as somebody who was there for others.
“He lived his life well.”
