POLICE are investigating the death of a man who fell at a care home last month, it has emerged.

Essex County Council has confirmed that Kenneth Terrey, who was in his 70s, died after a fall while living at Paternoster House nursing home in Waltham Abbey.

An Essex Police spokesman said officers were investigating the death “to establish whether any offence has been committed.”

An ambulance was called to the home in Paternoster Hill at about 6.30pm on March 6 and Mr Terrey was taken to Whipps Cross hospital in Leytonstone with chest injuries.

A spokeswoman for the company that runs the care home, Barchester, said he had died in hospital.

“We’re speaking to the family and obviously we’re very sad for their loss,“ she added.

“We’re working very closely with the police and relevant authorities to investigate the incident.”

She would not say who had found Mr Terrey, who is believed to have fallen from a window.

Essex County Council is also looking into his death, but would not comment in detail on the investigation.

A spokeswoman said: “The staff and residents at Paternoster House were saddened by the loss of Mr Terrey and we would like to extend our condolences to his family.

“We cannot comment further at this time.”

The coroner has opened and adjourned an inquest into Mr Terrey's death and said the suspected cause was chest injuries following a fall. A date for a hearing has not yet been set.