THE family of a former Army officer who died two days after falling from his bed at York District Hospital has welcomed the news that an inquest will be opened into his death.

A post-mortem examination carried out yesterday on Major Harold Lewis revealed that there were three contributory factors to his death last Friday.

These were broncho-pneumonia, immobilisation, and the fracture of the neck of Major Lewis's femur.

Contributory factors included a stroke and cerebral infarction.

His son, Peter, who is currently staying with his mother Eileen at her home at Dunnington, York, was due to formally identify his father's body today, after which an inquest was expected to be opened and adjourned by York coroner Donald Coverdale.

Major Lewis was cared for at the hospital for several weeks after being transferred from a Kent hospital after suffering stroke at his daughter's Gillingham home at Easter.

He fell from his bed at the hospital in the early hours of last Wednesday, suffering a head injury and a fractured hip. He died last Friday morning.

Mr Lewis said that based on the outcome of the post-mortem it was decided that an inquest should take place to establish exactly what happened prior to his father's death.

He said: "It's what we wanted in order to get a few answers, but it's not going to be easy.

"The coroner decided that he needs an inquiry and we agree with him wholeheartedly. Hopefully, he'll get the answers we didn't. I will wait until the end of the inquest to see what recommendations the coroner has to make, and if I'm not satisfied with what the coroner says I'll make a formal complaint to the hospital."

A funeral service for Major Lewis is expected to take place at Dunnington on September 2, followed by his cremation at York Crematorium. His four children, including one who lives in Alaska and another in Australia, are expected to be there.

Updated: 11:34 Tuesday, August 13, 2002