A 48-year-old woman died in Lewisham Hospital after a fall partly caused by excessive drinking, a coroner ruled.

Sharon Wishart, from Selhurst Road, Selhurst, died at Lewisham Hospital on August 10 last year.

Ms Wishart, a secretary, had suffered a number of falls due to alcohol consumption in the months leading up to her death, Southwark Coroners heard yesterday (May 28).

She was admitted to the hospital, in Lewisham High Street, numerous times following the falls.

On one occasion she blacked out on the road and fell backwards down 12 stairs.

Ms Wishart, who suffered from a number of medical problems including osteoporosis and liver sclerosis, was fitted with a back support to help her spine.

A further fall on August 2 fractured her femur and neck and she attended A&E the next day.

MORE TOP STORIES Despite undergoing an operation to have a screw inserted into her hip, her condition deteriorated and she died six days later in intensive care from multiple organ failure. She also developed respiratory problems.

Coroner professor Paul Matthews said: “The deceased suffered a fall and was admitted on August 3 and was found to have fractured her neck and femur against a background of other medical problems.

“Because the falls were not caused by age or any medical disease they were caused by alcoholism, falling over when under the influence of alcohol that’s not medical.

“Ultimately the cause of the fall was an unnatural event, this is the case of a non-medical death and in my judgement the appropriate conclusion is an accidental death.”