Edward John Frances Morant, 84, of Courtnay Place, Lymington, died at Southampton Hospital on January 22, a court heard. The inquest into his death was opened at Winchester Coroner's Court on Tuesday, January 27, by area coroner Rosamond Rhodes-Kemp. Mrs Rhodes-Kemp said: "On January 22, he was found at the bottom of the stairs at his holiday cottage by a friend. He was taken to hospital, but it was found he was not suitable for operative intervention. The preliminary cause of death has been given as a severe traumatic injury and a fall.