A FAMILY celebration ended in tragedy after a man fell down a flight of stairs in York and died, an inquest heard.

Alexander Karl Henson had been visiting his father at his home in Millfield Gardens in Nether Poppleton for festive celebrations on Boxing Day last year.

At the opening of an inquest yesterday, in the Barbican Centre, York coroner Donald Coverdale heard the 27-year-old, from Gateshead, had fallen down a flight of stairs at about 11.45pm after consuming alcohol.

Mr Henson was taken to York Hospital, where doctors found he had suffered a severe skull fracture and extensive haemorrhaging.

He was transferred to Hull Royal Infirmary the following morning to be treated by neurologists at the specialist unit for head injuries, but he never regained consciousness.

Mr Henson died from his injuries at the hospital on December 29. His sister, Natatsha Henson, later identified his body.

Dr Mark Egan, who carried out a post-mortem examination, gave a preliminary cause of death as a head injury.

North Yorkshire Police are still conducting an investigation into how Mr Henson sustained his injuries, the inquest heard.

Detectives and scenes-of-crime investigators went to the scene early on December 27 to carry out a search of the two-storey semi-detached property, including its garage, and to investigate how the injuries had been caused.

A 63-year-old man and a 56-year-old woman were later arrested in connection with the incident. It is understood they were released without charge.

The inquest was adjourned until police conclude their investigations and to allow Mr Henson’s family to make funeral arrangements.