INVESTIGATIONS were continuing this week after a 90-year-old resident of a Bishop's Stortford sheltered housing scheme died in hospital 11 days after an argument with another man over a woman resident.
The dead man has been named as Charles Alfred Knox. He lived at the Firlands House complex, along with the other man, and a woman, who suffered a suspected mild stroke following the incident.
Stort Valley Housing Association said Mr Knox and another man, reported to be aged 93, were involved in an argument over a female resident, thought to be in her 80s, during which Mr Knox fell and hurt his back.
In a statement, the housing association which has expressed its sympathies to the families and individuals involved said: "When the mobile scheme manager called [in], she called a GP to examine him. After an examination, the GP's assessment was that the resident had in fact hurt his back, and gave him painkillers.
"Following a morning visit by the scheme manager and the resident's carer, the resident was still complaining of back pain.
"Following advice from the GP who had attended him the previous evening, the scheme manager called for an ambulance."
Mr Knox was then taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow by ambulance.
It was discovered at hospital that he had suffered a fractured pelvic bone. He was kept in hospital but died on January 15 from other causes, the association said.
Hertfordshire Police spokeswoman Hayley Buzzel said police had investigated the incident, but no charges had been laid.
"Detectives have spoken to other residents at the home, including the party involved in the altercation. The matter will now be passed to the Crown Prosecution Service which will review the case to see if it wants to take it further but we certainly don't."
She added that the investigation had been kept low-key because of the age of the people involved.
"We certainly are not going to pass comment on it. It's just such a sensitive case."
A post mortem revealed that the primary cause of Mr Knox's death was pneumonia and bronchial emphysema. The secondary cause was two small fractures of the pelvis.
Firlands House is owned by East Herts District Council, and Stort Valley Housing, a member of Anglia Housing Group, is responsible for its day-to-day management.
A council press officer said residents of such housing schemes are deemed able to take care of themselves.
An inquest into Mr Knox's death was opened and adjourned on Friday, January 19. No date for the full hearing has yet been set.
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