An elderly man who was knocked down after trying to board a bus in Clontarf, Dublin, in January 2004 was able to converse with family members following the incident, an inquest into his death heard yesterday.
However, the condition of Richard Thomas Mahon, known as Thomas and in his early 80s, deteriorated in the days after his admission to hospital.
This culminated in his death on February 3rd, 2004, in the Mater Hospital.
Addressing Dublin City Coroner's Court yesterday, David Mahon said his father told him before his death that he had come alongside the number 130 bus on Mount Prospect Avenue, Clontarf, in an attempt to board it on January 17th, 2004.
He had put his hand out, but the bus moved off and his left foot went under a wheel of the bus. His foot was severely crushed and later required amputation.
Returning a verdict of "accidental death", the inquest jury requested Dr Brian Farrell to write to Dublin City Council to ask it to examine the positioning of the bus stop close to where Mr Mahon was injured.
Outlining the findings of the autopsy report on the deceased, Dr Farrell said his age, as well as other pre-existing conditions, may have been complicating factors in his death. However, there was little doubt that the "primary event" which led to his ultimate death after developing bronchial pneumonia was his immobilisation following the amputation of his left foot.
Earlier, the court heard evidence from a number of witnesses to the accident. Catherine Donovan, who boarded the bus with her daughter shortly before the accident occurred at around 11.30am, described how she had seen a "head with a cap" as the bus moved off from the stop. This was followed by a "thud". However, she could not see whether Mr Mahon had attempted to put his hand in the door of the bus. The bus had not pulled off in a fast or aggressive way, she said.
A statement from another passenger on the bus, Edmond Atkalesshi, was also read out to the court. He recalled seeing a hand appearing at the door of the bus as it was closing. The bus then pulled off.
But the driver of the bus, Kieran Leslie, told the court that the door was fully closed when the bus pulled off from the stop. If there had been an object impeding the door it was designed to open, a fact backed up by a Garda technical expert present.
Mr Leslie, who was visibly upset, said he had known Mr Mahon, who was a regular passenger since 1990 and always said "hello".