AN elderly man from South Oxhey died after a fall during a cruise ship holiday in South Africa.

Stanley Bryson, from Piltdown Road, flew to Cape Town on April 15 to board a cruise ship, on which he would have sailed home.

The 87-year-old went on a sightseeing trip the next day and appeared unsteady on his feet, having to be helped by other tourists.

That evening there was a dinner and reception and as Mr Bryson left to go to bed, he had to climb up a set of three or four steps.

As he did so he became unsteady on his feet, and reached out for a bannister, but as he put his weight on it, it gave way and he fell backwards.

Mr Bryson broke his left wrist and hip in the fall and was admitted to hospital where his injuries were operated on.

After the operation he suffered breathing difficulties due to a chest infection and also developed kidney failure.

The fluid in his lungs was drained off and Mr Bryson was treated with an aim to fly him home, but on May 2, he suffered from heart failure and died, an inquest into his death held in Hatfield heard today.

Mr Bryson had type two diabetes and was overweight, with a body mass index of 37.6. Coroner Edward Thomas said Mr Bryson's weigh played a significant role in his death.

His heart was enlarged, he had high blood pressure and kidney disease.

Despite this Mr Bryson still worked five days a week in the post room at Wetherspoon's Head Office in Watford. He used the money to fund cruising trips all over the world, including the Caribbean and Alaska.

Edward Thomas said: "The fall and the necessary surgery caused him to have a heart attack, but he was susceptible to a heart attack at any time.

"His kidneys were already weak and could not function properly which is not a surprise because of his diabetes.

"His body simply couldn't cope, and he died."

Mr Thomas recorded an accidental death due to a blunt force trauma to the left arm and hip.