A GREAT-grandmother died during a hip replacement operation after tripping on wrapping material in the same street for the second time in seven years. Great-great grandmother Rose King, 83, broke her left hip when she slipped on discarded plastic used to
A GREAT-grandmother died during a hip replacement operation after tripping on wrapping material in the same street for the second time in seven years.
Great-great grandmother Rose King, 83, broke her left hip when she slipped on discarded plastic used to wrap papers and cardboard, yards from a Barnardo's shop where she had volunteered for six years.
The tragic mum-of-11 had escaped with cuts and bruises after falling "flat on her face" in virtually the same spot in The Heathway, Dagenham, again tripping on discarded litter, in 2002.
Rose, of Sterry Road, Dagenham, was doing her morning shopping, buying newspapers for friends, when she fell despite holding onto her trolley on `October 30.
Her distraught relatives have not looked at compensation yet but are warning against the dangers of dropping litter.
Daughter Anita Blackmore, 64, said: "Some people discard rubbish. Perhaps they will be more careful. People just drop everything now.
"It was a freak accident. We just thought nothing of it and that she'd be home and now this has happened, it makes you think twice."
Rose was taken home by cab with the help of a selfless passer-by and later transferred to Queen's Hospital, Romford, where she died on November 2.
Barnardo's charity shop manager Jason King, 34, said: "We're still in shock.
"She was here six days a week, always sitting there at the till, like a permanent fixture. "There's so many reminders for us. It's devastating."
Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust declined to comment on the death but the blood clot she developed, known as a pulmonary embolism, is a recognised complication associated with hip replacements operations.
Family and friends followed her funeral cortege from St George's chapel in Roger Road, Dagenham, to Forest Park Cemetery where a cremation service took place on November 12.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here