A 90-year-old war veteran has died after allegedly being kicked to death while in an NHS hospital.
Kenneth Tyrer, 90, died at the weekend at Yeovil Hospital after hitting his head and breaking his hip during the violent attack by a fellow patient.
Mr Tyrer, a former Second World War fighter pilot who was suffering with dementia, died two days after being kicked to the ground and hitting his head.
In a further twist the Spitfire and Hurrican pilot’s family said they had to make the call to police themselves.
His son Bill Tyrer, 58, told the Daily Mail he felt the hospital should take ‘some responsibility’.
He said: ‘Somebody has to be accountable for his death. The man who has committed this crime has to pay for it, but the hospital has to take some responsibility.
‘He should have been safer than he was at home. He was the sort of person I thought was the backbone of Britain. He never complained, he never asked for anything.
‘And the first time he did, this is what happened. He fought for this country and now we have to fight for him.’
Mr Tyrer was admitted to the hospital early last month after suffering an infection.
A police investigation has been launched and the hospital is also carrying out an internal probe.
A spokesman for Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: ‘We are working closely with the police and the coroner’s office following the death of a patient (during the weekend). We are also carrying out our own internal investigation.
‘Our thoughts are with the family at this very difficult time.’
Avon and Somerset Police said: ‘We are investigating the circumstances around the death of a man at Yeovil Hospital. The hospital is helping us with our inquiries.’
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