John Withers had been a steam train driver on the Isle of Wight
An elderly man died after his mobility scooter fell from a "severely decayed" walkway, an inquest has heard.
John Withers, 82, died after crashing through through glass panels and falling falling nearly 4m (12ft) at a NHS medical centre in Fareham, Hampshire in September 2012.
A safety expert said the walkway had not been properly maintained.
A post mortem examination showed he had not suffered a heart attack or other medical episode.
Mr Withers fell nearly nearly 4m (12ft) from the walkway window
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector Michael Baxter told the jury the barriers on the walkway, built in 1977, were affected by white rot decay.
"The decay was severe ... all natural structural integrity was lost," he said.
The inquest heard the maintenance of the walkway was meant to be carried out by NHS Portsmouth, but it was done on an ad hoc basis and sub contracted.
Mr Withers had been attending a routine appointment to have his leg ulcers checked at the Osborn Road clinic on the afternoon of 20 September 2012.
'Safety conscious'
The inquest in Portsmouth heard from eyewitness Melanie Vaughn who described seeing the scooter lurch forward and crack the glass pane.
"It stopped. I thought 'he's going to reverse', but it lurched a second time and went right over," she said.
Mr Withers had been using a mobility scooter for four years, the inquest heard
Despite the efforts of medical staff, Mr Withers was pronounced dead at the scene.
His son Trevor told the inquest his father had been riding a mobility scooter for four years and the one in question had been used for about six months.
He said his father had been a steam engine driver on the Isle of Wight and was "very safety conscious".
The inquest continues.
