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SIR Bobby Charlton tragically died after an accidental fall at a care home, an inquest has heard.The Man Utd legend, 86, was declared dead in Macclesfield General Hospital on October 21.
Sir Bobby Charlton passed away last monthCredit: EPA
Sir Bobby had been living at The Willows care home in Knutsford where he was battling dementia.
Manager Tamara Simmons said the England World Cup hero “needed support with all aspects of daily living”.
The inquest was told Sir Bobby, who was “unsteady on his feet”, lost his balance as he stood up from a chair in the care home and hit a windowsill.
He also may have “possibly” struck a radiator during the fall.
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The court heard staff performed a full body check and didn’t notice any visible injuries.
But they later saw swelling on his back so called paramedics, who took him to hospital.
Tests carried out on the ex-footballer established he had fractured his ribs and was likely to develop pneumonia.
Sir Bobby was put on end-of-life care and sadly died five days later.
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A full cause of death was given as trauma in the lungs, a fall and dementia.
The inquest was also told the midfielder had an extensive medical history – including an appendix removal, gout, a urine infection, chest infections and a Covid diagnosis in September.
His bed had been placed as close to the floor as possible and was surrounded by crash mats and motion sensors as his restlessness made him likely to roll out.
Senior coroner for Cheshire Jacqueline Devonish ruled Sir Bobby’s death was accidental.
His family previously announced the heartbreaking news in a statement.
They said: “It is with great sadness that we share the news that Sir Bobby passed peacefully in the early hours of Saturday morning.
“He was surrounded by his family. His family would like to pass on their thanks to everyone who has contributed to his care and for the many people who have loved and supported him.
“We would request that the family’s privacy be respected at this time.”
Manchester United also paid their respects to the legend and said the club is in mourning following the news.
They said: “Sir Bobby was a hero to millions, not just in Manchester, or the United Kingdom, but wherever football is played around the world.”
While Sir Alex Ferguson said: “Unfortunately, I have also suffered the painful loss of my beloved wife, Cathy, this month, and I want to thank the club, the fans, and everyone who has sent me their condolences.
“The black armbands worn by the team against Brentford, and the flags at half-mast around Old Trafford were a wonderful tribute.
“Cathy supported me every step of the way through my career, and she was the backbone of our family.
“At such a sad time, there is tremendous comfort to be found in being part of the Manchester United community and we’ve all felt that spirit this week.
“We’re continuing to mourn for Bobby’s loss, but as we look forward to the derby this afternoon.
“Let’s also celebrate the many wonderful memories he has blessed us with and be inspired by the example he set.”
Sir Bobby was widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
He played in the Three Lions’ World Cup triumph in 1966 and went on to win Ballon d’Or later that year.
He also scored 249 goals in 758 games for Manchester United – helping them to their first ever European Cup win in 1968.
Despite playing as a midfielder, Sir Bobby netted a further 49 times in 106 games for England.
He spent almost all of his playing career at Man Utd and was renowned for his passes and long-range shots.
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Sir Bobby survived the Munich Air Disaster in 1958 that killed eight of his teammates.
His wife Lady Norma revealed the star’s battle with dementia in November 2020 in a bid to “help others”.
Sir Bobby helped England win the 1966 World Cup
He played for Man Utd for 17 years – winning three league titlesCredit: PA
Fergie was among those paying tribute to the footballer
Old Trafford was flooded with a sea of tributesCredit: PA More