Investigation and inquest
On 12th July 2012 I commenced an investigation into the death of Wade Dayabhai Patel, aged 26 years. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 8th October, 2014. The conclusion of the inquest was a narrative conclusion which indicated there was insufficient evidence to ascertain the circumstances of how he came to fall through a glass door at his home address, where he lived with his sister – the tenant of the property. The medical cause of death was: 1a Haemorrhage from incised wounds to the back of both legs.
Circumstances of the death
Mr Patel was found in the hallway of the address, lying close to an inner door that he had fallen through. The glass from that door had caused the injuries to his legs, these injuries leading to death.
Coroner’s concerns
The glass in the door is likely to have been the original glass, the property having been built in the 1930's. For obvious reasons the glass did not comply, from a safety viewpoint, with current legislation including building regulations.
Much of our housing stock will be of similar age, or older than, ████████ A significant proportion of that stock will be rented.
My understanding is that there is no legal requirement for a landlord or letting agent, to look specifically at safety of glass in a property. I further understand, for example, that there is recent legislation that enhances gas safety, requiring regular checking and recording of the checks by a suitably qualified person.
It therefore seems that such glass will only be replaced either in the process of a refurbishment of the property (thereby complying with current building regulations), or when the glass breaks and requires replacement.
Clearly, in this case, the breakage of the glass resulted in the death of Mr Wade Patel.