ALCOHOLIC Christopher McMullen died a day after falling down the stairs at a men's hostel in Prestwich.

The father-of-one was unable to stand on his leg but refused to be taken to hospital when paramedics turned up at the shelter in Bury Old Road on June 28, an inquest heard in Bury.

However, a post mortem examination later revealed Mr McMullen had fractured his pelvis which caused internal bleeding. Years of alcohol abuse also left the 53-year-old with severe liver disease. The injury and his pre-existing liver damage resulted in his collapse and death.

Mr McMullen was born in London and moved to the Prestwich area in the mid-1980s. He was an avid Chelsea football fan and a heavy gambler on the horses, the hearing was told on Friday.

He had turned to alcohol in his early 20s following the death of his father from cancer and, despite his own efforts to beat his addiction, consumed around 150 units of alcohol every week.

After hearing the evidence, Coroner Mr Simon Nelson said Mr McMullen died accidentally. He added: "The deceased would not have died when he did had he not had suffered the fall the previous day."