Football fan, 59, who was only able to communicate by sticking out his tongue after breaking back in stadium fall died after asking for life support to be switched off, inquest hears
A football fan who broke his back when he fell in a stadium asked for his life support to be turned off rather than spending the rest of his life on a ventilator and only able to communicate with his tongue, an inquest has heard.
Father-of-four Simon Oakley, 59, was watching his team Southampton with a friend when he fell down 10 concrete steps in the stand as he went to the concourse for half time.
Nearby supporters alerted stewards and paramedics to the situation, with one off-duty ambulance worker performing chest compressions as Mr Oakley lay on the ground.
The emergency led to a 10-minute delay in starting the second half of last season's Championship clash between Saints and Rotherham United at St Mary's Stadium, but more significantly brought calls to introduce handrails at football stadiums.
Mr Oakley was taken from the ground to the Southampton General Hospital where he was transferred to the Neurosciences Intensive Care Unit and cared for until his death.
An inquest has heard that father-of-four Simon Oakley, 59, asked for his life support to be switched off after a fall watching Southampton FC last year
A tribute to Mr Oakley was paid in the 59th minute of Southampton's first game after his death at Southampton General Hospital on November 13, 2023
Mr Oakley broke his back falling down the stairs at St Mary's Stadium just before half time in his beloved Saints' Championship clash with Rotherham United last season. Rotherham's Jordan Hugill is seen scoring later in the game
An inquest held at Winchester Coroners' Court, Hampshire, heard that Mr Oakley had an MRI scan which showed two fractures to his spine, paralysing him from the neck down.
He was told by consultants at the hospital that he would be dependent on a ventilator and a wheelchair for the rest of his life and Mr Oakley, who had to communicate by sticking out his tongue, expressed that he wished to die instead.
He was repeatedly assessed over the next three weeks to ensure he was capable of making that decision and doctors concluded it would be unlawful to treat him against his wishes.
On November 13, he was visited by family and friends, as well as the hospital chaplain, before his ventilator was switched off at 3pm with Mr Oakley passing away half an hour later.
In the weeks beforehand, Mr Oakley was also visited by former Southampton defender Francis Benali, who played 373 times for them between 1988 and 2004.
Mr Oakley's beloved Saints paid tribute to the departed fan at the first home match after his death, against Bristol City on November 29, with applause in the 59th minute and the father's image being shown on screen.
Fellow fans were also encouraged to sign a book of condolences.
Mr Oakley could only communicate with his tongue when he asked for the life support to be switched off, after the fall paralysed him from the neck down
His brother Brian Oakley (pictured) remembered the father-of-four's last heroic gesture - donating his kidneys and corneas to other patients
Mr Oakley died around half an hour after his life support was turned off
A spokesperson for the club said at the time: 'Everyone at Southampton Football Club stands united in solidarity and extends our deepest condolences to the grieving family.
'Throughout this challenging journey, the Saints community, together with the club officials, have stood by the family, offering support and comfort.
'We will continue to honour the memory of Simon and offer our support in any way possible during this difficult period. Rest in peace Simon. Once a Saint, always a Saint.'
Mr Oakley made one last heroic gesture by donating his kidneys and corneas to other patients upon his death.
'It’s an amazing and courageous thing to do,' his brother Brian told the Daily Echo. 'To give yourself up so that others could live, he will always be remembered for that.'
Assistant coroner for Southampton, Kiran Chahal Musgrave, recorded an open verdict at the inquest into Mr Oakley's death, saying there was not enough evidence of how he fell.
She said: 'He may have tripped or been pushed, deliberately or not, but there is lack of evidence to as to which of those possibilities it may have been.
'I would like to offer my sincere condolences.'
Mr Oakley was at the match with his friend Andy Takle who witnessed him 'rolling down the stairs' as the pair went down to the concourse just before half time.
In a statement read by the coroner, Mr Takle said: 'I was standing next to Simon watching the game and the next thing I saw was him rolling down the stairs in front of me.
'I could not catch him, we had scuffled to the stairs to head down just before half time.
'We were not drunk, we had had two pints at the most, one at the pub and a second at the stadium.
'When he made his decision in November I knew this is what he truly wanted.'
Brian, 84, also called for handrails to be introduced at football venues in response to his brother's death, adding that he 'wished' Southampton had added them at St Mary's (pictured) since
A club statement read: 'We will continue to honour the memory of Simon and offer our support in any way possible during this difficult period. Rest in peace Simon. Once a Saint, always a Saint'
Another eyewitness previously told the Daily Echo that 'it probably took about five minutes until the stewards realised what was going on'.
Mel Adamson added that stewards handed out bottles of water after Mr Oakley was taken to hospital to help 'shaken' spectators.
After the inquest Mr Oakley's brother Brian, 84, called for handrails to be introduced at football venues.
'We said it from day one that there should be handrails there,' he said. 'It wouldn't cost a fortune for a football club to support it.
'I am sure the handrails could have made a difference. There is no way that I blame Southampton Football Club at all. It was an accident.
'But I do think it would be a good idea for them to install it on the wide stairways. It is essential. I just wish something had come out of it - that they had done something since.'
