Potters Court carer sobbed recalling Mark Williams' death

Another who had raised concerns about his flat being on the top floor said she was "furious" when she found out he had died.

The inquest into the death of Mark Williams previously heard the 60-year-old had become "disoriented" and could not remember what floor his flat was on.

He was registered blind and had been suffering from lymphoma. 

Jo Miles, a former care assistant at Apex Prime Care, became emotional after recalling the day his body was found.

She said: “I went to the garden with two colleagues to find poor Mark lying on the ground. I advised (another carer) to go get a blanket from his flat.

“An ambulance came but pronounced Mark dead. The girls became truly distraught as you would be.”

Winchester Coroner's Court previously heard Mr Williams had been housed on the fourth floor of the Southampton City Council-owned block of flats because it was lighter.

Ms Miles said she raised concerns he had begun feeling disoriented but "things were not getting addressed".

Asked if she was worried about him living on such a high floor, Ms Miles said: “When he started getting disorientated, yes. One-hundred per cent yes.”

Care assistant Lily Hayman told Winchester Coroner's Court she asked for Mr Williams to be moved on the ground floor after a colleague told her he had been seen wandering around the corridor.

Although she discussed this with another resident who was happy to swap, Mr Williams was kept on the top floor and was found dead below his balcony on the morning of November 9, 2021.

READ MORE: Southampton council on why blind man was housed in top floor flat

Ms Hayman said: “When he came out of hospital he looked physically sick.

She added: “There was still some orientation issues even before he went into hospital but when he started coming out of hospital it really started becoming evident and he was wandering into walls.”

Asked if she had spoken to Mr Williams about moving downstairs, Ms Hayman said: “We had a lot of conversations about it, he was certainly open to it. The only concern he had is that it might be too dark.

“I was speaking to the lady downstairs about it as well and she was absolutely fine with moving."

She added: “One of the things is the social aspect of it. He would tell me that he did want to be involved more, go out into the restaurant and speak to other residents. That’s one of the things that he didn’t think he could do.”

The inquest previously heard Mr Williams approved of the flat though his daughters had reservations about the floor it was on.

READ MORE: Southampton blind man's balcony fall death 'a gross failing'

Mark Williams (Image: Supplied)

Ms Hayman added: “(Mr Williams) was a really cool guy and I enjoyed talking to him. He didn’t feel sorry for himself at all, he just enjoyed getting on with his life.

“It was a very traumatic day. He was a really lovely man and I really enjoyed caring for him.”

Both women no longer work for Apex Prime Care.

Lisa Haynes, supportive housing head at the council, told the inquest it would have taken some time to arrange for Mr Williams to be moved.

She said: “If interventions could be put in place to help him live safely and independently in the flat he had already moved into that would have been the best outcome, in my opinion, for him.”

The inquest continues.