A GRIEVING husband has told how he battled to his keep his wife alive after she fell from scaffolding at their Hampshire home.

Stephen Akester was climbing a ladder when his wife Jane plunged past him and landed on the ground below.

Mr Akester ran to her aid and managed to get her breathing again, but she died in hospital a few hours later.

As reported in later editions of yesterday's Daily Echo, the tragedy happened at the couple's home at King's Saltern Road, Lymington.

Mrs Akester, a 53-year-old tutor at Totton College, suffered serious head injuries after falling about 12 feet.

Her husband said: "We've had the house re-roofed and Jane was cleaning the paint work when the accident happened.

"I was coming up the ladder when she fell past me. I got her breathing again but I knew it in my heart that it wasn't going to work."

An ambulance took just eight minutes to reach the couple's large detached house at the junction of King's Saltern Road and Stanley Road.

Mr Akester added: "The emergency services were fantastic. They did everything they could, but my wife suffered massive head injuries in the fall and died a few hours later."

Mrs Akester taught the Alexander Technique, which aims to rid the body of harmful tension.

The technique is used to help patients suffering from backache, headaches and panic attacks, plus a range of chronic diseases.

Shirley Johnston, acting director of partnerships at Totton College, said: "Hundreds of students have benefited from Jane's experience, sense of humour and gentleness over the years.

"She was a well respected tutor who will be remembered fondly and missed greatly."

Mr and Mrs Akester lived in Pennington, near Lymington, for ten years before moving to King's Saltern Road in the early 1990s.

Yesterday Mr Akester was being comforted by their two sons aged 23 and 26.

A neighbour who asked not to be named said: "My daughter and grandchildren had been down from London for a visit. I went outside to see them off and saw all the flashing lights.

"Jane was a very warm person - everyone loved her."

Another resident spoke of his shock at her death, saying he and the Akesters had been planning to get together at a Christmas party.

He added: "Jane was a wonderful person, very friendly and a fantastic neighbour."