December was killed accidentally, Acting Coroner Juan Wolffe ruled yesterday.

Mr. Wolffe handed down the verdict after an inquest heard how Phillip Nathaniel Rawlins, of Railway Trail, Sandys, fell out of a window on the second floor of his home and, within a few minutes, bled to death from a torn aorta.

The window from which Mr. Rawlins fell on December 4, 1998 had a low window sill which would have reached about half way up Mr. Rawlins' thigh.

It appeared Mr. Rawlins attempted to open the window and fold back the blind he leaned out too far and did not have the strength to stop himself from falling.

The deceased's daughter, Mrs. Marian Whitecross and son, Phillip Everett Rawlins both told the inquest their father was very particular about keeping the blinds of the window from which he fell closed as he did not like too much light coming into his bedroom.

Phillip Rawlins testified his father was "not the same person'' after suffering a seizure some weeks before he died.

The seizure resulted in Mr. Rawlins spending approximately one week in hospital. He had also spent time at the Packwood Home. Phillip Rawlins said his mood had changed and that he was weaker after the seizure.

The Court heard that the deceased had visited his physician two days before the accident and the doctor had suggested that Mr. Rawlins should be cared for at Lefroy House on weekdays when his children were working.

Phillip Rawlins and his sister spoke to their father the night before he died to tell him that they would be taking him to that facility for better care during the day.

Both of the deceased's children testified that Mr. Rawlins was not happy about the decision and "cried a bit and moaned'' but ultimately agreed to go.

The next day, Phillip Rawlins went to his father's home at about 6 to 6.30 a.m. to have breakfast and left at 8.30 p.m.

Phillip Rawlins went back to his father's apartment at 3.15 p.m. and saw he was not there.

When he came back at about 4 p.m. and went into the apartment, he noticed the window, which was always closed, had been opened and the curtains were hanging outside the window.

He went over to the window and looked out and saw his father dressed in his pajamas and slippers lying on the concrete pavement below the window in a pool of blood. He called 911.

Dr. George Shaw attended at the scene and proclaimed Mr. Rawlins dead at 4.49 p.m.

It was estimated that Mr. Rawlins had died at approximately 1.30 p.m. He also suffered broken ribs and a severe laceration to the back of the head which led to the external bleeding.

Mr. Wolffe's verdict was one of accidental death, the cause of death being severe thoracic injuries resulting from the fall.