Pensioner's bus death blamed on seat design

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Kathleen Bates died after she fell from the seat when the bus she was on braked to avoid a cat.

The 82-year-old was sitting on a flip-up seat and had nothing to hold on to when the bus came to a sharp halt, it was reported today.

After an inquest yesterday, Derby and South Derbyshire coroner Louise Pinder recorded a verdict of accidental death but said she planned to write to the Transport Secretary about the situation.

The coroner's office confirmed today that she said: "I make a finding that the design and location of this seat contributed to Mrs Bates's fall and therefore ultimately her death."

The inquest heard Mrs Bates, from Breaston, Derby, was travelling on a bus just before 11am on May 7 when the driver braked to avoid a cat.

She was thrown from her seat, suffering serious injuries, and was pronounced dead at Derbyshire Royal Infirmary at 1.37pm that day.

The cause of death was given as a cervical spinal fracture, the coroner's office said.