Finding into death of Renato Ettore Poletti

72y · Male·Upper cervical spine injury sustained in a fall from a ladder

A 72-year-old man suffered a fall from a 3-metre ladder during home garden maintenance, sustaining a severe upper cervical spine injury (C2 fracture with high spinal cord haemorrhage) that was deemed non-survivable. He died 2 days later in ICU after palliative care. The coroner noted this was an unwitnessed fall and emphasised that ladder-related injuries remain a significant preventable cause of death, particularly in older men. Key preventive measures highlighted include maintaining three points of contact, working within physical limits, having a second person present to hold/stabilise the ladder, and recognising the heightened risk in the 75-79 age group. The coroner commended ongoing public health campaigns promoting ladder safety but noted that deaths from domestic ladder falls continue to occur and require sustained prevention efforts.