Bristol man's heart attack at wheel of scooter

A disabled Bristol man suffered a heart attack and drove his mobility scooter off a cycle path into a ditch, an inquest heard yesterday.

Robert Iles, known as Bobby to friends and family, collapsed at the wheel of his motorised scooter on a cycle path, known as Crook's Bottom, between Hartcliffe Road and Hengrove Way, on February 7, 2008.

Flax Bourton Coroner's Court heard it was likely Mr Iles, who was single, died instantly at the wheel and fell head-first into bushes, just after 5pm.

Mr Iles' carers at Chard Court, in Fortfield Road, Hengrove, reported him missing to police when he failed to return home that night. By midnight, Mr Iles was classed as a high-risk missing person and there was an appeal for information.

Detective Constable Stephen Baines told the inquest: "Mr Iles was an active man, who was not hindered by his disability. He could not walk but he used his scooter on a daily basis. But he had repeatedly fallen from his chair in the past."

Mr Iles left home at about 3pm and rode to the pharmacy. Staff said he appeared confused as he asked for his weekly medication, which he had already collected.

He was later seen by several witnesses to fall 4ft down a grass verge near Hartcliffe roundabout.

He told passers-by who stopped to help him that he was unhurt and on his way to ACL Mobility in Whitchurch Lane to get his scooter fixed. By the time Mr Iles reached the shop, it had closed, so he started to make his way back home via Crook's Bottom, when it was starting to get dark.

By 9pm, the police helicopter and search dogs were out looking for Mr Iles, who was due to take insulin for his diabetes.

At about 7.20am the following day, a cyclist, returning home from a night shift, saw his buggy in the ditch.

The cyclist approached the scooter and realised there was a man still strapped in, with scratches on his face.

Police and paramedics arrived and Mr Iles was pronounced dead.

The court heard that two years ago Mr Iles had fallen asleep at Weston train station and drove on to the tracks.

Coroner Terry Moore said: "The most likely scenario is that Mr Iles had been feeling unwell during the afternoon. We have heard evidence that it was a natural cause that led to his death. I am satisfied with this and therefore I record a verdict of natural causes."