Top jockey Walter Swinburn fell to his death from his bathroom window, inquest hears

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Walter Swinburn was found dead with severe head injuries at his home in December 2016

Swinburn, who rode the ill-fated Shergar to win the Epsom Derby in 1981, was found with severe head injuries in the basement courtyard of his luxury home.

Police and ambulances crews were called to the apartment in Belgravia, central London, but he was pronounced dead at the scene on December 12th last year.

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Westminster Coroner's Court heard the three time Derby winner, nicknamed 'The Choirboy' because of his boyish looks, suffered from post-traumatic epilepsy following a horrific fall during a race in Hong Kong in 1996.

His father former Irish champion jockey Wally Swinburn, 80, and brother Michael Swinburn, a racehorse breeder, were both at the inquest.

The jockey was prone to epileptic fits and falls following the 1996 fall, which almost killed him, and he was prescribed high doses of drugs to combat the condition, the inquest heard

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Walter's father Wally found his son in the courtyard, 12 feet below the bathroom window

The window was very stiff, I've tried to close it, and I think he has just lost his balance and fallen out.

Wally Swinburn

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His father found him in the courtyard after becoming concerned and going to the house, the hearing was told.

He found the bathroom window open and his son in the courtyard about 12 feet below with severe head injuries, the hearing was told.

PC Daniel Scott said there were no signs of any disturbance within the flat but there was a towel on the floor with vomit in it.

Coroner Dr Shirley Radcliffe questioned how the divorced father-of-two managed to fall out the window.

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The former jockey had suffered with epilepsy since 1996 and was prone to epileptic fits

She said: "He had epilepsy and was prone to falls.

"The alternative is that he jumped out the window, but there is absolutely no evidence this is even remotely the case.

"One has to assume he somehow has fallen through the window.

"If he was maybe standing on the bath to the window or he had an epileptic fit, it is difficult to be sure. But that seems to be the most likely explanation."

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Wilburn pictured in 1997 outside court, a year after his fall in Hong Kong which almost killed him

Tests showed he had normal levels of his drugs and had drunk the equivalent to two glasses of wine, which showed "he was clearly not intoxicated".

Mr Swinburn senior told the hearing how he thought his came to fall out the window.

He said: "I believe he was trying to shut the window. The window was very stiff and he would have to have knelt on the windowsill itself to get his hand out.

"It was very stiff, I've tried to close it, and I think he has just lost his balance and fallen out."

He added: "He would have these epileptic fits, and I have witnessed once or twice and afterwards he would be very shaken and would often vomit.

"I think that's what has happened, and that's why there was vomit in the towel and he would have been very shaky and very weak.

"He's obviously gone to get himself cleaned up and the window was open, and he was probably cold and he's gone to close it and that's what happened."

Returning a verdict of accidental death, the coroner said: "It seems to me there is little doubt this tragic death was due to an accident.

Speaking outside court Michael Swinburn said: "This has been a big shock to everybody. The inquest has brought some closure.

"We want to thank everyone for their messages of support and there kind response.

Water Buffalo Racing Sun, August 3, 2014

Contestants compete during 'Mekepung' traditional water buffalo race on August 3, 2014 near Negara, Bali, Indonesia. Meaning 'to chase around', Mekepung is a race of water buffaloes driven by a jockey and was originally designed as a fun game for peasants to spend their free time between the end of harvest and the start of the planting season.

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Contestants compete during 'Mekepung' traditional water buffalo race on August 3, 2014 near Negara, Bali, Indonesia. Meaning 'to chase around', Mekepung is a race of water buffaloes driven by a jockey and was originally designed as a fun game for peasants to spend their free time between the end of harvest and the start of the planting season

"The racing world is a close community and it was a just a great response."

The Choirboy came to fame, aged just 19, when he rode Shergar to victory in the 1981 Epsom Derby by a record 10 lengths.

He retired from racing in 2000, before taking up training in 2004 and becoming a racing pundit on Channel 4.

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