A RETIRED hairdresser died in hospital in Carlisle two weeks after falling and breaking her hip, an inquest opening has heard.

Eileen Little, 79, of Carlisle, died in the Cumberland Infirmary in the early hours of September 5, 2024.

Area Coroner for Cumbria, Ms Kirsty Gomersal, said that Ms Little was admitted to the accident and emergency department of the hospital on August 21 after falling that morning.

She underwent a hip operation on August 22, but her condition subsequently deteriorated, and she was pronounced dead by medics at 12.35am on September 5.

Ms Gomersal said that a doctor's statement was submitted to the court in lieu of a post-mortem, offering a cause of death of a pulmonary embolism and lower respiratory tract infection, caused by a fracture of her right hip as a result of a fall.

A background cause was given as old age.

Offering her condolences to Ms Little's family and friends, Ms Gomersal said a provisional date for a conclusion to the inquest of February 4, 2025.