Aston Villa legend Gary Shaw, 63, died of severe head injury after banging his head on kerb while getting out of a taxi on a night out, inquest hears
Aston Villa legend Gary Shaw died after banging his head on a kerb while getting out of a taxi on a night out, an inquest has heard.
Aston Villa legend Gary Shaw died after banging his head on a kerb while getting out of a taxi on a night out, an inquest has heard.
The 63-year-old football icon was discovered collapsed in the street by a neighbour on September 6 and he passed away seven days later having suffered from a severe head injury.
Birmingham Coroners Court heard today how Shaw had been out at the Jam House in Birmingham city centre and was put in a taxi by friends at around 1.30am.
As he got out, the footballer tragically fell and knocked his head before being found in the early hours of the morning.
The 1982 European Cup winner - regarded as one of Villas best forwards in the clubs 150-year history - was taken to the citys Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
His condition deteriorated and he died ten days later on September 16 this year after suffering a severe head injury.
Birmingham Coroner Louise Hunt recorded that Shaw died as a result of an accident.
She said: Mr Shaw had been out for the night drinking with friends on September 5.
The 63-year-old football icon was discovered collapsed in the street by a neighbour on September 6 and he passed away seven days later after suffering from a severe head injury
In the early hours of September 6 and made his way home in a taxi.
He was found collapsed on the pavement outside his home address having fallen and hit his head.
He was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he was found to have a severe head injury as a result of the fall which resulted in his death on September 16.
At the inquest, Shaw was described as a single man who had been a professional footballer.
Philip Cutler, his brother-in-law, said in a statement: Gary had been out for the evening to the Jam House club.
At 1.30am he was put in a taxi by friends. I can confirm he had consumed an amount of alcohol.
However, some time after he got out of the taxi, fell and hit his head on the kerb side and was rendered unconscious.
It was sometime between 2am and 3am he was found and an ambulance called.
Shaw departed Villa in 1988 after his final years at the club were ruined by various injuries
The player (left) is an icon at Villa and he won the European Cup with the club back in 1982
Shaw (left) began his career with Aston Villa and went on to win three trophies with the club
A doctor said in a statement Shaw had suffered an extensive and diffused head injury and that no surgical intervention was possible.
He was stabilised and put on the critical care unit. He had a CT scan on September 9 which showed a deterioration in the brain and he died on September 16.
The doctor added Shaws death was the result of a severe head injury as a result of a fall and that hypertension was a contributory factor.
A toxicological report showed that the ex-player had an alcohol reading of 221 milligrams per 100 millilitres.
Shaw, an academy graduate, who scored three goals on the way to the final against Bayern Munich in Rotterdam, also netted 18 times for Villa during their march to the first division title in 1981.
He scored 79 times in 213 games for his boyhood club.
The talented striker, who played for England under 21s, was named the Professional Footballers Association Young Player of the Year in 1981 and European Young Player of the Year in 1982.
He also played for Blackpool, Walsall, Kilmarnock and Shrewsbury Town.
The European Cup winner would be a regular visitor at Villa Park in the years after retirement
Shaw, an academy graduate, who scored three goals on the way to the final against Bayern Munich in Rotterdam, also netted 18 times for Villa during their march to the first division title in 1981
Idolised by many on the terraces, in recent years he had been a regular matchday attendee at Villa Park and often held Q&A sessions with corporate guests.
The club ambassador had also worked as a statistician, having formerly helped coach the youth team
His funeral in October was attended by droves of fans who turned out to pay their respects, toasting his memory with pints and talking among themselves.
Applause broke out among those present as his hearse arrived with many singing the terrace chant Holte Enders in the Sky in what made for an emotional scene.
It comes as Villa had announced the tragic news in a club statement the previous month and paid tribute to one of the heroes of their 1982 triumph.
The statement read: Gary was one of our own, a talented striker who delighted supporters with his goalscoring exploits which helped fire Villa to success in the 1980s, the statement read.
Individual accolades would also follow for a player who was idolised by many on the terraces.
He passed away peacefully earlier today surrounded by his family, who asked Aston Villa to release a statement on their behalf.
Aston Villa fans said their final goodbyes to Gary Shaw ahead of the legends funeral
Supporters lined the streets by the stadium some time before the procession passed by
Fans gathered in their droves at Villa Park to pay their respects to the icon ahead of Shaws cremation
The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Gary’s family and loved ones at this extremely difficult time.
Born in Kingshurst, Birmingham in January 1961, Shaw became an apprentice at Villa in 1977 and went on to make his debut for the club the following year.
