A DEVOTED elderly brother and sister died, one trying to help the other.

Raymond Scott, 76, was found lying at the foot of the staircase of the home he shared with his sister, Lilly Pickering, 82, in Eastcroft Road, Grangetown.

The body of Mrs Pickering was found lying just feet from her brother.

Cleveland Police broke into the couple's home after their brother, Thomas, who lives in Surrey, failed to raise them on the telephone and neighbours reported not seeing them for some days.

Home Office pathologist Dr James Sunter said Mr Scott had died of a heart attack and Mrs Pickering from blood clots stemming from fractures to her collar bone, shoulder blade and ribs, consistent with a fall down the stairs.

Dr Sunter said: "It is a very unusual thing for two elderly people to be found dead at their home, having died more or less at the same time, but independent of each other. It is a very curious situation.''

He said it appeared that Mr Scott had died a day or more before his sister, who died at least a day or more after sustaining injuries.

He said: "It is possible Mr Scott collapsed and his sister sustained her injuries in trying to attend to him, only to die herself of her injuries some time later.

"It is equally possible that Mrs Pickering fell herself and that in the process of trying to help her, Mr Scott suffered his heart attack and died. Either scenario is possible.''

Deputy Teesside coroner Gordon Hetherington said: "These are very unusual and very tragic circumstances"

He said many elderly people felt capable of living on their own, but he added: "Unfortunately, in this particular case, the fact they were somewhat frail and elderly meant neither was able to help each other and in these circumstances both died.''

He said Mr Scott had died of natural causes, while Mrs Pickering's death had been accidental.