A retired school teacher died after falling from the roof of his holiday home in Cyprus.

Dr Angus Thomas, from St Lawrence Way, Bricket Wood, had climbed onto the roof of the single storey property in Paphos to clean a solar panel.

But when his wife Anne heard a crash, she found him lying on the patio, “conscious but clearly distressed and injured”, an inquest heard today (Tuesday).

Dr Thomas, 64, a doctor of philosophy, was rushed to hospital where scans showed he had suffered fractured ribs, a punctured lung, a fractured skull and possible bleeding into the brain, Hatfield Coroners Court was told.

He was then transferred to Nicosia General Hospital where he received treatment.

However, his condition deteriorated and he died in hospital on December 13, 2007.

A post mortem was carried out on Mr Thomas' body after it was flown back to the UK.

The consultant pathologist at the QEII Hospital in Welwyn Garden City found multiple fractures of his skull and damage and swelling to the brain, and bleeding inside the brain.

Dr Thomas' cause of death was recorded as massive pulmonary embolism and bronchopneumonia, and brain damage.

Graham Danbury, the assistant deputy coroner for Hertfordshire, recorded a verdict of accidental death.

“Clearly the injuries and conditions causing death arose from the accidental fall,” he said.

Mr Danbury described the reasons why the inquest had been delayed for more than three years as “bureaucratic”.

He said information was obtained from Cyprus through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and “despite their best endeavours, that often takes considerable time”.