SPINAL problems contributed to the death of a retired sales director who died in hospital after he fell into the road and was struck by a city centre bus.

An inquest on Tuesday heard how Michael Denholm, 64, died on March 7 from a blockage in his lung which was caused by spinal cord injuries.

These had been sustained when he was hit by a bus on St Peter’s Street three weeks earlier after he stumbled off the kerb and was “clipped” by a bus pulling into a shelter at around 9.40am.

Mr Denholm, who lived at retirement home Thomas Sparrow House in Wheathampstead, was treated by paramedics at the scene and after a short stay in Lister Hospital, Stevenage, was transferred to Addenbrooke’s in Cambridge where they found he had no power in his lower limbs.

The inquest heard it was unknown why the retiree fell into the street but his wife Susan Denholm said he was prone to losing his balance.

She said: “I assumed he had tumbled as there had been a history of it. It would not have been the first time it had happened.”

She also addressed the driver of the bus, who was present at the inquest, and told him “It was just an accident”.

Coroner Edward Thomas, who recorded a verdict of accidental death, said Mr Denholm had a number of medical problems including arthritis in his spine, which he noted meant the injuries he sustained were much more serious.

He also confirmed there was “nothing the bus driver did wrong”.