An elderly woman tragically lost her life when the wall of her residence collapsed on her while she was hanging out laundry, according to findings presented at an inquest.
Clarice Berry, aged 77, was buried under rubble after the deteriorating gable end of her semi-detached house in Wigan, Greater Manchester, fell on July 18, 2021. Witnesses described the collapse as sounding like an explosion, prompting neighbors and passersby to rush to the scene to assist Mrs. Berry. Despite efforts to rescue her, she succumbed to her injuries at Wigan Infirmary shortly after being freed by firefighters.
During the inquest held at Bolton Coroner’s Court, Coroner Briona Hartley criticized the property landlord for neglecting to address the brickwork issues raised by Mrs. Berry’s husband, Arthur. The court highlighted that a thorough inspection by a competent building professional could have prevented the tragedy. It was noted that the wall had shown visible signs of structural problems for years, but no action was taken to rectify the situation.
The court heard testimonies indicating that the landlord was informed of the wall’s condition multiple times, yet no measures were taken to address the issue. The collapse was attributed to long-standing wall tie failure, exacerbated by the lack of structural maintenance. The coroner emphasized that timely intervention could have averted the fatal incident.
Despite speculations about a condemned boiler in the property, the inquiry concluded that it did not contribute to the wall’s collapse. The narrative conclusion presented by Ms. Hartley outlined the sequence of events leading to Mrs. Berry’s demise and underscored the importance of conducting investigations and implementing necessary repairs to prevent similar tragedies.
Following the inquest, Amanda Berry-Smith, one of Mrs. Berry’s daughters, expressed gratitude towards the Coroner and the court team for their professionalism and sensitivity. The family acknowledged the conclusion as appropriate and hoped that the issued report would help prevent similar incidents in the future. Their primary focus remains on honoring the memory of Clarice Berry and supporting each other through this difficult time.
