The 87-year-old former civil servant suffered fatal head injuries after she was pushed over by a blast of wind created by a helicopter at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, Devon
An elderly woman who “doted” on her family died a “sudden and violent death” after she was bowled over by a rescue helicopter during a routine hospital visit, an inquest has heard.
Jean Langan, 87, a retired civil servant, went with her niece to have a hearing aid fitted at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, Devon, on March 4, 2022, and the two were returning to their car when a landing search and rescue helicopter triggered a strong gust. Her family believes the resulting “downwash”, which pushed both her and her niece to the ground, led to her death.
In a statement read out by retired senior coroner Ian Arrow during an inquest held at Exeter Coroner’s Court, the family said the fall inflicted fatal head injuries, and that Mrs Langan died a short time later. The retiree’s family said she suffered a “sudden and violent death”.
Mr Arrow told the inquest jury that Mrs Langan, who was born in Liverpool, was a retired civil servant who lived in Plymouth. He said: “This inquest concerns the death of Mrs Jean Langan at Derriford Hospital on March 4 2022. Shortly before her death, Mrs Langan was in the hospital car park. A search and rescue helicopter carrying a patient was coming into land at the nearby hospital helipad.
“Mrs Langan was blown over by the downwash, that is the fast moving air that was created by the helicopter landing.” Mr Arrow said the incident had been investigated by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), which published a report. He told jurors that they would not be investigating matters the AAIB had already examined, with no evidence to be heard from witnesses concerning Mrs Langan’s injuries.
In their statement, the woman’s family described their shock at her death, and said Mrs Langan was an important part of their family. They told the inquest: “Jean was the most senior member of our family. She had always been there for all of our lives. The violent manner of her death has affected us all.”
“She would have hated the publicity that the circumstances surrounding her death have generated. As a result, she lost the quiet dignity that she would have chosen.” The statement added that Mrs Langan “doted” on the children in her family, including her three grandchildren.
It said she had lived in her home for more than 30 years, following her retirement from the Civil Service where she was renowned for her “efficiency”. It continued: “She was always on the go. Jean was elderly and we knew that one day we would lose her. However, the manner of her death has affected us immensely. Jean was doing nothing wrong.”
Inquest jurors viewed CCTV footage from the hospital car park, which showed people walking next to the wall of the helipad. They were seen falling to the ground as the search and rescue helicopter came into land on the helipad. Dr Amanda Jeffery, a Home Office pathologist, told the inquest that Mrs Langan sustained “significant” head injuries.
She said: “Mrs Langan had attended a routine audiology appointment at Derriford Hospital with her niece and was returning to their parked car when a helicopter came into land. Mrs Langan was swept off her feet, causing her to fall backwards on to the ground.” Dr Jeffery said Mrs Langan died about three and a half hours after the incident.
The medical cause of her death given as a head injury. The inquest, which is due to last for five days, continues.
