Jilly Cooper died of head injury suffered in fall at home, inquest hears

"The author Jilly Cooper suffered a fatal head injury during a fall at her Gloucestershire home, an inquest has heard. Cooper, 88, whose 18 novels include Riders and Rivals, was found by family at her home in Bisley at about 5pm on 4 October. She was initially alert and paramedics transferred her to Gloucestershire Royal hospital, but her condition deteriorated, Gloucestershire coroners court heard. She died in hospital, with her family present, at 8.30am on 5 October."

"The senior coroner for Gloucestershire, Katy Skerrett, reached a conclusion of accidental death and said Cooper had died as a result of a traumatic subdural haematoma. The circumstances surrounding her tragic death were she had suffered an unwitnessed fall at her home address on 4 October, Skerrett said. She fell, perhaps down some stairs, sustaining a significant head injury. There were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her fall. She passed away later, on 5 October, with family present."

"Her death prompted tributes from high-profile figures including Queen Camilla, who said in a statement: Very few writers get to be a legend in their own lifetime but Jilly was one, creating a whole new genre of literature and making it her own through a career that spanned over five decades may her hereafter be filled with impossibly handsome men and devoted dogs. Cooper was given a damehood in the 2024 new year honours list for her services to literature and charity."

Jilly Cooper, aged 88, suffered an unwitnessed fall at her Bisley home on 4 October and was found by family around 5pm. She was initially alert and taken by paramedics to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, where her condition later deteriorated and she died at 8.30am on 5 October with family present. The senior coroner concluded the death was accidental and recorded the cause as a traumatic subdural haematoma, noting she may have fallen down some stairs and sustained a significant head injury. There were no suspicious circumstances. Cooper wrote the Rutshire Chronicles; Rivals was adapted for Disney+. She was awarded a damehood in the 2024 New Year honours and received tributes from public figures.

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