Grandmother, 77, died when crumbling 'timebomb' gable end wall fell on top of her while she hung out washing

By JAMES TOZER, NORTHERN CORRESPONDENT and LOUISA GREGSON Published: 10:48, 30 June 2026 | Updated: 10:48, 30 June 2026 A grandmother was fatally crushed while she hung out washing when a crumbling gable end wall labelled a 'timebomb' fell on top of her, an inquest heard.  Clarice Berry, 77, was doing laundry on a hot summer's day at her home in Shevington, near Wigan, in July 2021 when tragedy struck. Her husband Arthur came home from visiting one of their daughters to discover neighbours and passers-by frantically trying to find her under 10ft of rubble. The retired kitchen assistant was eventually pulled free by firefighters and rushed to hospital, but tragically died later that day. Now a coroner has slammed the failure to repair the bulging brickwork, which the inquest heard Mr Berry had repeatedly raised with their landlord, Shlomo Klein. Branding her needless death 'senseless', Bronia Hartley said: 'Tragedy is an overused word but that is what Arthur came home to that afternoon.'  She said she would be writing a prevention of future deaths report in relation to the landlord and property management firm responsible for the end-terrace property.  Despite the couple's concerns, no structural assessment or remedial works were undertaken to the wall, Bolton Coroner's Court heard.   Clarice Berry, 77, died when the gable end wall of her rented house in Shevington, Greater Manchester fell on top of her while she was hanging out washing in July 2021 The defect progressively worsened, resulting in the collapse which caused Mrs Berry's death. Giving evidence at a previous hearing, police coroner's officer Benjamin Dobbs said: 'On July 18, 2021, Mrs Berry was stood in her carport hanging out washing. 'Suddenly, the gable end of the house above the carport gave way and crumbled into where Mrs Berry was stood. She was covered under the debris. 'Her husband had been out and came back to find neighbours trying to get her out of the rubble. 'The emergency services were called and the fire service got Mrs Berry into an ambulance. 'She is thought to have suffered a cardiac arrest and numerous broken bones.' The court heard that following her death, investigations were carried out by the Health and Safety Executive. These showed that there was an underlying structural problem and it was only a matter of time before the wall collapsed.  'The senseless tragedy of Clarice's death is that any competent surveyor would have identified it as just that, a timebomb,' assistant coroner Ms Hartley said.  'I find that any reasonably competent property management company and/or responsible landlord, employing common sense, would, at the very least, have ensured that the wall was monitored for any signs of progression and, by no later than 2018, would have ensured that a structural survey was performed.  'The structural collapse of the gable and end wall was caused by long-standing wall tie failure. 'Had steps been taken to investigate the known and worsening structural defect, on the balance of probabilities, remedial action would have been taken and the collapse which caused the deceased's death would have been prevented.'  Giving a narrative conclusion, she said Mrs Berry died as a result of chest injuries sustained when the gable end wall fell on top of her after a failure to carry out remedial work. The coroner said she would be addressing a prevention of future deaths report to S&G Properties Ltd, of which landlord Mr Klein is co-director, and property management firm KMPM.  Speaking after the inquest, the couple's daughter Amanda said: 'While nothing can bring our mum back or change what happened, we feel the conclusion is appropriate and reflects the evidence heard.  'This has been a devastating loss for our family, and we would not wish such trauma on anyone else.'  Welcoming the coroner's plan to write a report, Ms Berry-Smith added: 'We hope it supports learning and helps reduce the risk of similar tragedies in the future.  'At this time, our focus is on remembering Clarice - a dearly loved wife and mum - and supporting one another as a family.' The Health and Safety Executive closed its investigation without taking any action against any of the parties involved. Mr Klein was approached for comment.  No comments have so far been submitted. 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