20/08/2010 - Homebase face legal bid after death
Homebase is facing legal action from the son of an 83-year-old woman who fell down a flight of stairs at one of its stores and died.
Andrew Widgery's mother Margaret fell backwards down the stairs after losing her balance as she tried to grab a handrail.
She lost consciousness after falling to the bottom of the flight.
According to 60-year-old Mr Widgery, who is seeking justice for his mother, the stairs did not meet safety requirements and he has demanded a review of stores across the country be carried out.
He also accused the chain of not taking his mother's death seriously, and said the family had not even received a letter of sympathy from the store.
Mr Widgery said the design of the stairs meant that when his mother moved over to let another customer pass by she was unable to then reach the rail to gain her balance.
The grandmother of four was taken to hospital after the accident at the Homebase store in Godalming, Surrey, but never regained consciousness and died the next day, on December 21 2008.
He said after her death the store made the stairway safe but added: "This could so easily have been prevented and I am just really worried that nationally nothing has been done to protect customers and that my mum's death meant nothing to them."
Nobody at Homebase was immediately available to comment.
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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