Uneven pavement may have contributed to man's death

Emergency Sign. File photo / New Zealand Herald

An uneven pavement may have contributed to the death of a 56-year-old Kapiti coast man who was "significantly affected by alcohol" when he suffered head trauma after falling.

Self-employed plumber, Jeoffrey Bruce, became injured after he fell and struck his head hard against a wall and pavement while walking home after a drinking session at the Waikanae Hotel.

Mr Bruce was walking down an alleyway when it is believed he tripped on the uneven surface of the pavement and/or a judder bar, designed to slow traffic, which was in the alleyway.

He was taken to Wellington Hospital following the incident. He died five days later on June 6, 2014.

The coroner's report determined the fall was what caused the injuries that ultimately lead to Mr Bruce's death.

Coroner Tim Scott said although it was unclear how much alcohol Mr Bruce had to drink, he was not intoxicated.

A blood test taken following the incident showed Mr Bruce had a blood alcohol level twice the legal driving limit. The limit has since been lowered.

Mr Scott said Mr Bruce would have been significantly compromised by the amount of alcohol he had drunk.

"I do not say that Jeoffrey was intoxicated when the incident that claimed his life occurred. All the direct evidence, his friends and barman, is that he was not," he said.

"But it is obvious that he had a significant amount to drink. it is obvious that his reactions would have been affected... by the amount of alcohol he consumed."

A witness to the incident said it had appeared as if Mr Bruce was stumbling into the wall although he did not see what had caused him to trip.

Mr Scott recommended the hotel revisit issues raised about the alleyway in particular whether any or all of the pavement needed to be resurfaced.