A Scots bar manager who was known as a 'true gentleman' died after suffering a brain injury from falling down a flight of stairs.
Thomas Mulvanny Hawthorne, 56, was visiting a former colleague in Preston when he fell and suffered horrific injuries on April 4 2021.
An inquest held at Preston Coroner's Court on July 8 heard that Mr Hawthorne, from Glasgow, was immediately taken to the Royal Preston Hospital but sadly passed away two weeks later.
For the past 15 years, Mr Hawthorne has managed The Lab bar in Glasgow City Centre, which was given the title of The Best Pub in Scotland by the Sunday Mail in 2010.
During the inquest, Area Coroner Richard Taylor read out a statement from Dr Thomas Owen who looked after Mr Hawthorne during his time in hospital, reports Lancs Live.
“He was admitted to the Royal Preston Hospital after being found at the bottom of some stairs,” Mr Taylor said.
“A CT scan revealed he had suffered an extensive subdural and subarachnoid haemorrhage. He also had multiple rib fractures and a skull fracture.”
Mr Hawthorne was taken to theatre where surgeons carried out a decompressive craniectomy to remove a portion of the skull and to evacuate the haemorrhage.
“Unfortunately his conscious level didn’t improve significantly and after discussion with the family active care was removed and he passed away at 6.15am on April 23 in intensive care,” Mr Taylor added.
The medical cause of death was given as traumatic brain injury and Mr Taylor gave a conclusion of accidental death.
The inquest heard Mr Hawthorne, who lived in New Edinburgh Road, had issues with alcohol and would regularly drink a litre of vodka a day.
He had sought help from his GP, Dr Elizabeth Bell at the Tollcross Medical Practice, but despite being referred to the alcohol treatment team in February 2020 he failed to respond to their letters.
“I can’t say whether or not he had alcohol in his system at the time of the fall although on balance it is more likely than not that he did,” Mr Taylor said.
Keith Richardson, who worked with Mr Hawthorne for 15 years at The Lab, paid tribute to his friend at the time of his death and said he was a “one-off” and was “irreplaceable”.
“It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that we let you know of the passing, after a tragic accident, of our beloved friend and colleague Thomas Hawthorne,” Mr Richardson said.
“Big Tam, as we called him, was a larger than life personality and a particular favourite of many of you who come to the Lab.
“Irreplaceable is an often misused term, but in this situation it could not be truer.
“Big Tam was a one-off and the Lab, and the world, is a far less happier and exciting place to be in.”
Hundreds of comments were posted on The Lab’s Facebook page after Mr Hawthorne died with customers describing him as “a true gentleman” and “a beautiful man”.
Joyce Thomson said Mr Hawthorne had “a massive personality with the most generous of hearts” while Gordon Roberts described his death as “an absolute tragedy”.
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