Army veteran recovering from cancer was 'attacked' in his ho

* Anthony Wilson was believed to be sleeping when Saeed Nejat lunged at him

* Court hears Mr Wilson told police Nejat had put his 'arm around his neck'

* Nejat had been handcuffed to a UK Border Agency officer at the time

* Coroner rules the 'assault' did not contribute to Mr Wilson's death

A 78-year old ex-serviceman recovering from cancer surgery was 'attacked' in his hospital bed by an illegal immigrant just 20 hours before he died, an inquest heard today.

Anthony Wilson had undergone gruelling surgery to have part of his colon removed and was believed to be sleeping when the Iranian man lunged and tried to grab his neck, West London Coroner's Court heard.



'Assault' : Anthony Wilson (pictured) had undergone gruelling surgery and was believed to be sleeping when the Iranian man lunged at him, the inquest heard

Saeed Nejat had been awaiting deportation and was handcuffed to a UK Border Agency officer when he dived at the pensioner in front of patients.

The three Border Agency officers who had been guarding him had to pull Nejat away from the frail ex-serviceman after the incident at around 8.15am October 17, 2011, at Hillingdon Hospital in west London.

Recording a verdict that he died of natural causes, coroner Lorna Tagliavini said Mr Wilson was unhurt in the incident and 'the assault did not play any contributory role in Mr Wilson's death'.

Mr Wilson, who had served as a teenager in national service after the Second World War, died from complications related to the surgery, the inquest heard.

Patient Mohamed Aden said in a statement: 'Mr Wilson appeared to be sleeping, suddenly the male went mad, he had one hand on the pillow and grabbed the patient's throat in a throat hold.

'The guards then pulled him off. It was all very chaotic.

'The patient hadn't looked frightened and didn't say anything. It only lasted a few seconds.'

Another patient told police Mr Wilson had been 'strangled with such force it caused him to go red in the face'.

But the inquest was told this patient was 'very excitable' and his description did not match Mr Wilson's account.



Inquest : Mr Wilson died from complications related to the surgery, at Hillingdon Hospital (pictured), in west London, the inquest heard

Mr Wilson, a retired engineer, had told police that he 'woke to see Mr Nejat standing against the window. The next thing he knew Mr Nejat was next to his bed with an arm around his neck', the inquest heard.

But he did not complain of any injury and said he did not want to press charges for assault.

Mr Amardeep Sidhu, a detention officer who was handcuffed to Nejat at the time of the attack, said the Iranian made no warning before he lunged at the 78 year-old.

He told the inquest: 'He began holding his stomach, he said he wanted to walk around a bit, we said yes and went with him.

'We walked towards the window and walked around a little bit in the area between the beds.

'That is when he turned quite suddenly and attempted to put his arm behind Mr Wilson. When he did that we took control of his arms and moved him away back to his bed.



Hearing : The inquest at West London Coroner's Court (pictured) heard Mr Nejat put his arm around the neck of Mr Wilson

'He didn't make any warning. Mr Nejat has put his left arm behind Mr Wilson's head.

He may have been attempting to bring it around his neck but before he could do that we had control of his arms and moved him quickly.'

Nejat had been detained at Colnbrook immigration removal centre in Middlesex but had been admitted to the hospital with gallstones. He was deported from the UK in November 2011, the UK Border Agency has confirmed.

A handcuffed detainee under guard would usually be put in their own side room but there were none available at the time so he was put in a bed on a general surgical recovery ward three other men, including Mr Wilson.

On the morning of the incident, Mr Wilson was said by doctors to have looked well and his family were under the impression he was 'on the mend'.

But later that evening his condition deteriorated and shortly after midnight he 'turned pale and clammy' and began vomiting, the inquest was told.

He suffered a heart attack that night and died and 4.20am that night - just 20 hours after the incident.

A post-mortem found there was no evidence of an assault or bruising to the pensioner's neck and the attack did not contribute in any way to his death.

None of Mr Wilson's family were in court for the hearing, but in a statement read out by the assistant coroner at the inquest his nephew Simon Wilson said relatives were 'shocked' by his sudden deterioration.

He said: 'Mr Wilson said he spoke to his uncle about Tony (Mr Wilson) who was on the mend and getting better and said he was shocked he deteriorated so suddenly when he thought he was coming home soon.

'He asked his uncle if he thought the assault had anything to do with this but his uncle said he didn't know, he wasn't sure exactly what happened at the time.'

Mr Wilson suffered septicaemia after the lining of his bowel broke and died of multiple organ failure - a common complication or colon surgery, the inquest heard.

The pensioner, who served in the Army as a teenager during National Service after the Second World War, was admitted to hospital on October 11 and underwent surgery the following day.

Doctors had warned him of various risks involved with the invasive surgery because of his age and because he had been fitted with a pacemaker in February.

He was only given a 50-50 chance of surviving the post-operative period.

Recording a verdict that he died of natural causes, Ms Tagliavini said she found that Mr Wilson was 'unhurt' by the attack.

She said: 'I also find that the assault did not play any contributory role in Mr Wilson's death.'
Anthony Wilson was believed to be sleeping when Saeed Nejat lunged at him.

[Court hears Mr Wilson told police Nejat had put his 'arm around his neck' - [Anthony Wilson was believed to be sleeping when Saeed Nejat lunged at him] - [Recording a verdict that he died of natural causes, Ms Tagliavini said she found that Mr Wilson was 'unhurt' by the attack] - Well Ms Tagliavini I don't think that the savage attack would have done Mr Wilson any good now would it and I find you comments not only ludicrous but downright bloody insensitive!! - Fx