A GRIEVING widow is demanding answers after her husband's sudden death on a romantic holiday.

An inquest was told Ellis Barker, 63, complained of headaches after a fall in the Asda car park at Crewe a week before a trip to Tunisia. He died two days into the holiday with wife Mildred.

Evidence was given that tiny blood vessels damaged in the fall had caused a blood clot which became so swollen with fluid his brain could not take the pressure.

The inquest at Crewe on Wednesday was adjourned after family members demanded an explanation why the internal bleeding was not diagnosed in Leighton Hospital's A&E department, where Mr Barker had been taken by ambulance immediately after the fall.

Cheshire coroner Nicholas Rheinberg was told Mr Barker had been drinking with his brother, Harry Barker in a town centre pub on November 5 last year.

Mr Barker said they both felt unwell as they left. He added: 'We met at dinner time and had quite a bit to drink. Ellis could take his drink more than I could, so I wouldn't say he was drunk.

'I remember coming out of the pub and the next thing I recall was a lad stopping to say 'your mate has fallen'. He then phoned an ambulance.'

The grandfather, from Roberts Court, John Street, Crewe, was taken to casualty at Leighton but was discharged the same day, after being diagnosed with a blunt head injury and complaining of blurred vision. Tests for internal bleeding were not carried out.

Clinical director and consultant in A&E, Duncan Chambers, said in a state-ment: 'Given the same circumstances I would have kept Mr Ellis in overnight.'

Mr Barker, a club steward, went back to work in the days following the fall. Still suffering headaches, he went to his GP to check he was fit enough to travel and was given the all-clear at Hungerford Medical Centre in Crewe where no new clinical symptoms were found.

Mrs Barker told the hearing her husband's headaches got worse after the flight to Tunisia.

She said: 'On the first day of the holiday we went for breakfast but he said he had a bad head and needed to lie down. We got up in the afternoon and went for a walk to the pool, and then went for the evening meal.

'He said he felt ill and had to go back to the room. He said his head was banging. He was given assistance to get back, but in the night he was taken seriously ill.'

Mrs Barker added: 'Why did they send him home in the first place?

'His face was in a terrible state, it was just one big bruise. All they told me was to keep ice packs on it, and gave me a book about head injuries. Why didn't they see to him?'

Mr Rheinberg replied: 'I, too, am concerned why he was sent home the same day. I would like to find out if further tests should have been carried out.

'I will give you the opportunity to talk with your family to decide if you want this inquest closed today, or if you would like to adjourn for more reports. I have to warn you, it could mean a lengthy delay.'

After a discussion with family members, Mrs Barker decided she would like the inquest to be adjourned for further witnesses to be called.