A WOMAN died in hospital after suffering an unwitnessed fall at her home, an inquest heard.

Margaret Nellie Browning, 91, who lived in Pineholt Close in St Ives, Ringwood, died at Poole Hospital.

An inquest into her death was opened by senior coroner for Dorset Rachael Griffin on Monday, January 13.

Coroner's officer Ken McEwan said Ms Browning had an unwitnessed fall on December 23, 2019, and she was discovered on the floor by her daughter.

She was taken to Poole Hospital by ambulance but her health deteriorated and she died on December 29, 2019.

Dr Sue Hazel, a consultant geriatrician, provided a report which gave a provisional cause of death as traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage due to a fall, with stroke and atrial fibrillation listed as contributing factors.

Mrs Griffin adjourned the inquest until February 4.