A tragic incident unfolded when a grandmother lost her life under a collapsing wall while hanging laundry at her home in Wigan, Greater Manchester. Clarice Berry, aged 77, was buried under debris when the gable end of her semi-detached house crumbled on July 18, 2021. Witnesses described the scene as resembling an explosion, prompting immediate attempts to rescue Mrs. Berry. Despite efforts to free her, she succumbed to her injuries at Wigan Infirmary.
During the subsequent inquest at Bolton Coroner’s Court, Coroner Briona Hartley labeled the incident as “senseless” and emphasized the negligence of the property landlord in addressing the deteriorating brickwork. The coroner criticized the lack of action by the landlord despite complaints from Mrs. Berry’s husband, Arthur. It was revealed that structural issues had been present for years without any remedial measures taken.
The court proceedings highlighted the oversight in addressing the structural problems, ultimately leading to the fatal collapse. The coroner stressed that timely intervention could have prevented the tragedy. While investigating the incident, it was determined that the condemned boiler in the house did not contribute to the wall’s collapse. The narrative conclusion stated that Mrs. Berry’s death resulted from injuries sustained during the wall’s collapse, which could have been prevented with proper investigation and maintenance.
Following the inquest, Amanda Berry-Smith, one of Mrs. Berry’s daughters, expressed gratitude for the court’s handling of the case. The family acknowledged the irreparable loss and hoped that the issued report would prevent similar incidents in the future. Their focus remains on honoring the memory of Clarice Berry and supporting each other through this challenging time.