A FATHER accidentally stumbled into a mirror, breaking it and bleeding to death at his home in Bolton, an inquest heard.

James Jardine, known locally as Derek, was found dead on February 21 at his flat in Harwood Vale Court, Harwood, after emergency crews broke into his bathroom.

Bolton Coroner’s Court heard that police and fire services were called to the address, where Mr Jardine lived alone, after his daughter, Fern was unable to contact him.

Fern and her mother Angela, Mr Jardine’s wife, turned up at his home after a number of calls went unanswered, let themselves into the flat and then realised he was locked in the bathroom.

Assistant coroner Rachael Griffin heard how emergency crews were called to the scene to break open the door and found the 65-year-old taxi driver collapsed and covered in blood.

Mr Jardine's daughter said her dad, who was described as a hard-working man, drank a ‘substantial amount of alcohol’ throughout his life.

Post mortem evidence revealed he suffered from liver disease, which Ms Griffin concluded contributed to the cause of his death.

She said: “He was very fit and active in his younger days, but throughout his life he had drank alcohol.

“In 2015 some blood tests revealed liver damage and it was apparent that he suffered from liver disease as a result.

“On the day of his death, he was found collapsed and in an unresponsive condition in his bathroom.

“Post mortem evidence showed several lacerations to his forearms and as a result of liver disease he had very thin and fragile skin, which bled more severely due to his blood not clotting.

“Derek was described as clumsy and known to fall, usually when under the influence of alcohol.

“He was found surrounded by fragments of mirrored items, so Derek must have stumbled into the mirror, causing lacerations to his arms resulting in his death.”

Ms Griffin recorded a narrative conclusion that Derek "died as a result of injuries sustained on a back drop of alcohol related liver disease."