A DEVOTED elderly brother and sister died after one had tried to help the other, an inquest heard yesterday.

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

The body of Mrs Pickering was found just feet from her brother. She had died within a day of the mentally deficient brother she had chosen to look after.

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 that they had not seen them for some days.

Home Office Pathologist Dr James Sunter said Mr Scott had died of a heart attack.

Mrs Pickering died because of blood clots, after fractures to her collar bone, shoulder blade and ribs, consistent with a fall down the stairs.

Dr Sunter said Mr Scott had died first. Mrs Pickering died a day or more after she was injured.

He said it was possible that Mr Scott had collapsed and his sister suffered her injuries while trying to attend to him, only to die of her own injuries some time later.

It was equally possible that Mrs Pickering had fallen, and that in the process of trying to help her, Mr Scott suffered a heart attack and died, said Dr Sunter.

Deputy Teesside Coroner Gordon Hetherington said Mr Scott had died of natural causes, while Mrs Pickering's death had been accidental.