Timothy West, who appeared in shows like EastEnders and Brass over the course of his career, died, aged 90, last year and an inquest into his death took place today
The late Timothy West’s sad final wish has been revealed at an inquest into his death this week. The acclaimed actor is said to have died “peacefully with his family around him” at a care home where he was receiving palliative care.
It was announced in November that actor Timothy – who has been in shows such as Brass and EastEnders – had passed away, aged 90. Now, six months on, a hearing into his death was held at Westminster Coroner’s Court today.
Timothy is said to have been found by a nurse at Wandsworth Common Care Home, where he had been living in the days prior to his death. As reported by PA, he move there after being in hospital for three months following a fall.
The care home’s general manager Thomas Holden gave a statement for the inquest. Mr Holden said that Timothy was admitted with a view to trying to rehabilitate him enough so that he could go home “as he wished to spend his last days there” but that there was a “slow decline” in his health over the days he resided there.
Mr Holden said in a statement read out: “On 12 November his family were with him all day. They continued to stay with him in his room during the evening and he passed away peacefully with his family around him at 19:20.”
Details about his previous fall, months prior to moving into the care home, were also revealed at the hearing. Timothy was admitted to hospital in August last year after the fall near his home, with him later discharged to the care home.
Assistant coroner Ellie Oakley said: “Timothy West had an unwitnessed fall near his home on 11 August 2024 which resulted in a significant traumatic brain injury. It is not possible to determine how the fall happened and there is no evidence of others being involved.
“He was treated in hospital for around three months before being discharged to a care home on 5 November 2024 for palliative care. Unfortunately he was not well enough to be discharged to his home despite receiving appropriate care in the care home. He died on 12 November 2024.”
The inquest heard that members of the public came across him unconscious on a footpath near Wandsworth Common after his fall and an ambulance crew attended. They are said to have taken him to St George’s Hospital in Tooting after a neurological assessment. He remained in hospital for around three months during which time the actor’s loved ones eventually decided to prioritise his “comfort and dignity” and arranged for him to be discharged to the private care home.
A cause of death was also disclosed at the inquest. The medical cause of death was given as a subdural haematoma and extra-axial haemorrhage, with a traumatic brain injury and non-convulsive status epilepticus, aspiration pneumonia and hypertension as contributing factors.
The coroner addressed the family and close friends who viewed proceedings online at the conclusion of the inquest, telling them: “I would like to end by passing on my sincerest condolences to Mr West’s family and friends for this tragic loss of their loved one.”
As reported at the time, in a statement announcing his death last year, Timothy’s children Juliet, Samuel and Joseph West said through his agent: “After a long and extraordinary life on and off the stage, our darling father Timothy West died peacefully in his sleep yesterday evening. He was 90 years old. Tim was with friends and family at the end.
“He leaves his wife Prunella Scales, to whom he was married for 61 years, a sister, a daughter, two sons, seven grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren. All of us will miss him terribly. We would like to thank the incredible NHS staff at St George’s Hospital, Tooting and at Avery Wandsworth for their loving care during his last days.”
