Gran-of-three, 87, died after ‘being blown over by helicopter landing at hospital as she walked back to car’
Retired civil servant suffered fatal head injuries in the horror, inquest told
A GRAN-of-three died after she was blown over by a helicopter landing at a hospital, an inquest heard.
Jean Langan, 87, was walking through the car park at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, Devon, when the horror unfolded.
Exeter Coroner’s Court heard she and her niece were “blown over by downwash from a helicopter“.
Jean suffered fatal head injuries in the tragedy and died three-and-a-half hours later.
The inquest was told Jean had gone to the hospital to have a hearing aid fitted on March 4, 2022.
As she left the appointment, the search and rescue helicopter was making its way to a helipad with a patient.
The court was told the “downwash” was caused by fast moving air created by the helicopter landing.
CCTV showed people falling to the ground as they walked next to the wall of the helipad.
Dr Amanda Jeffery, a Home Office pathologist, told the inquest jury that Jean sustained “significant” head injuries.
She added: “Mrs Langan was swept off her feet, causing her to fall backwards on to the ground.”
Senior coroner Ian Arrow said Jean was a retired civil servant who lived in Plymouth.
He said the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) launched a probe into Jean’s death but jurors would not examining the results of their report.
The coroner also read a statement from Jean’s family, who described their shock at her “sudden and violent death”.
They added: “Jean was the most senior member of our family.
“She had always been there for all of our lives. The violent manner of her death has affected us all.
“She would have hated the publicity that the circumstances surrounding her death have generated.
“As a result, she lost the quiet dignity that she would have chosen.”
The family also told how Jean “doted” on the children in her family, including her three grandchildren.
They said the expert knitter was “always on the go” and walked the family’s dog every day.
Jean’s loved ones added: “Jean was elderly and we knew that one day we would lose her.
“However, the manner of her death has affected us immensely. Jean was doing nothing wrong.”
The inquest, which is due to last for five days, continues.
