AN INQUEST has been opened into the death of a Harefield man 24 hours after he was attacked in hospital.

Anthony Wilson, 78, died at Hillingdon Hospital the day after an assault on October 17. His attacker was a patient in an adjacent bed, believed to be from Iran and under the guard of the UK Border Agency, who had to be pulled off him by guards.

A post-mortem examination showed Mr Wilson died of blood poisoning (septicaemia) and as a result police are not investigating the incident. The inquest has been adjourned.

In a statement, the hospital in Pield Heath Road, confirmed the man in the bed next to Mr Wilson had launched a ‘minor assault’.

“The assault took only seconds and amounted to him putting an arm round Mr Wilson’s neck,” it said. “He was immediately pulled off by the two guards who were sitting next to his bed. The police were informed, as is hospital policy. The detainee was immediately taken back to the detention centre. Mr Wilson was examined by medical staff, who found no bruising or other signs of the assault.

“The police then informed Mr Wilson that they were not pursuing their investigation. He was certainly not strangled.”

Mr Wilson’s brother Jeffrey, also of Harefield, told a national newspaper that he wanted to get to the bottom of Anthony’s death and to find out if the assault was a contributing factor.

Anthony Wilson, who was born in 1933, worked for 30 years for Hillingdon Council and was being treated for bowel cancer at the hospital.

The UK Border Agency said Mr Wilson’s attacker had been taken back to Harmondsworth immigration removal centre in Bath Road.

A spokesperson said: “We are reviewing this incident and, if necessary, will take appropriate action. The detainee was handcuffed and accompanied by three escorts.”