Two operations failed to save a man who suffered severe head injuries after falling from a lorry, an inquest heard today.

Hatfield Coroner’s Court heard a second day of evidence today concerning the death of Anthony Cook, from Bradshaw Road, Watford.

After his fall on July 28, 2009, he was taken to the QEII Hospital in Welwyn Garden City and later transferred to the Royal Free Hospital in London.

However, he passed away on August 4.

On the second day of evidence today, the jury heard from doctors at the QEII and Royal Free involved in Mr Cook’s treatment after his fall.

He had a CT scan of his brain at 1.14pm that same day, which showed evidence of bleeding within the brain and outside its covering. There were also signs of a fractured skull caused during the incident.

The scan images were taken by a courier to the Royal Free, who said he should be transferred to a specialist neurology unit.

They had no spare beds and other hospitals in the region were also full, so Mr Cook continued to be monitored in Welwyn, the court heard.

Later that evening, at about 9pm, however, Mr Cook’s condition deteriorated.

A second scan was ordered that same evening before he was transferred to the Royal Free.

There doctors examined the new scan images and found “a significant increase in the size of bruising both inside and outside” the brain, said Dr Andrew Plaats, consultant radiologist at the Royal Free.

He also said the “midline” of the brain, ensuring it is in a central position, had moved to the right as a result of the swelling.

An operation to remove most of the large bruising was completed and the patient was taken to intensive care.

A third scan was taken on August 1 that showed there was still swelling in Mr Cook’s brain, but less severe than the previous scan.

However, the pressure on the brain spiked again despite using drugs to control it, a second operation was completed on August 3.

Sadly, Mr Colin Shieff, a consultant neurosurgeon at the Royal Free, said there was no consideration of a third operation.

“The brain was going to continue to swell and he was going to die,” he told the court.

The inquest, heard by Hertfordshire Coroner Edward Thomas, continues.