Clarice Berry, a 77-year-old grandmother, was crushed to death by a collapsing wall while hanging out laundry at her home in Wigan, Greater Manchester, an inquest has concluded. The wall, described as a 'timebomb', gave way on July 18, 2021, burying her under 10 feet of rubble.
Collapse and Rescue
Neighbours and passers-by heard a sound like a 'bomb had gone off' and rushed to free Mrs Berry from the debris. Firefighters eventually rescued her, but she died from her injuries shortly after arriving at Wigan Infirmary. The inquest at Bolton Coroner's Court on Monday heard that temperatures had reached 32°C that day, and her husband Arthur had been visiting their daughter.
Coroner's Findings
Coroner Briona Hartley described the death as 'senseless' and a 'tragedy'. She criticised the landlord, Mr Schlomo Klein, for failing to repair the bulging wall despite repeated complaints from Mr Berry. Hartley stated that 'any competent building inspector or landlord' with 'common sense' could have prevented the tragedy. Investigations by Health and Safety Executive inspector George Smart revealed long-standing wall tie failure as the cause of the collapse.
Landlord's Negligence
The court heard that the wall had been visibly bulging for years and had been reported as requiring urgent attention. Despite this, no structural assessment or remedial work was carried out. Hartley said: 'The structural collapse of the gable and end wall was caused by long standing wall tie failure.' She added that had steps been taken, the collapse would have been prevented.
Family's Response
Speaking after the inquest, daughter Amanda Berry-Smith said: 'While nothing can bring our mum back or change what happened, we feel the conclusion is appropriate and reflects the evidence heard.' She welcomed the coroner's intention to issue a report to prevent future deaths, adding: 'We hope it supports learning and helps reduce the risk of similar tragedies in the future.'
The coroner also noted that a condemned boiler in the house was ruled out as a factor in the collapse. A report will be made to S&G Properties Ltd and property manager KMPM under Regulation 28 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013.
