ENTERTAINER Rod Hull died in a "bizarre accident" after falling from the roof of his Sussex home while trying to adjust his TV aerial, an inquest heard.

The 63-year-old, famed for his mischievous puppet Emu, was attempting to improve his Meridian reception of a football match between Manchester United and Inter Milan when he fell on to a greenhouse.

He had drunk enough alcohol to leave him with slightly impaired judgement but he was not incapacitated.

The father-of-five, who was divorced from his third wife, suffered massive head and chest injuries and died on his way to the Conquest Hospital in Hastings.

East Sussex Coroner Alan Craze, who recorded a verdict of accidental death, said: "It was a bizarre and tragic accident."

The inquest heard how Rod and his 19-year-old son Oliver were watching TV at the star's National Trust-owned home at Crutches Farm, Hastings Road, Winchelsea, at around 8pm on March 17 this year.

Thud

Oliver said: "We were watching TV and the sound was very bad.

"We couldn't hear anything, so dad said he would go up and fix the aerial. I offered to go but he said he would do it.

"I heard a light thud and then a heavy thud. I rushed out to see if he was alright and then found him.

"I think he fell from the ladder. I don't think he ever made it to the roof."

Hospital pathologist Mark Boxer said a blood test revealed that Rod had drunk enough alcohol to put him three-quarters of the way to the legal drink-drive limit.

He agreed that the amount of alcohol would not have left Mr Hull incapacitated but possibly with slightly impaired judgement.

The inquest was attended by Rod's daughter Catrina, 30, and her husband Philip Davidson. After the hearing Mr Davidson said: "We all miss Rod very very much."

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