A grandfather and retired university professor fell to his death from a ladder in a tragic accident, an inquest heard.

Joseph Connor, 79, was found unconscious and lying face down in his back garden.

The father-of-two and former parish councillor had been clearing moss from the roof of his bungalow in Bridge when he slipped from a ladder.

His wife Meriel discovered him at about 10.15am on April 14 after arriving home and called 999.

But despite the efforts of paramedics and air ambulance crews to resuscitate him, his injuries proved fatal.

PC Chloe Standen told the inquest at Archbishop’s Palace in Maidstone that she arrived at the couple’s home to find Mrs Connor with three paramedics, who believed Mr Connor had suffered a serious head injury and cardiac arrest.

An emeritus professor of inorganic chemistry and pro-vice-chancellor at the University of Kent, he had lived in Canterbury since 1981.

North east Kent coroner Alan Blunsdon declared his death an accident, concluding he had "sustained fatal injuries" after falling from the ladder, most likely while coming down from the 8.9ft roof.

Born in Crowborough, East Sussex, on October 26, 1938, Mr Connor spent his spare time volunteering as a Macmillan visitor and at Pilgrim’s Hospice, where he was "adored" by staff and other volunteers.

Having studied modern languages at Christ’s College, Cambridge, before switching to chemistry, he spoke several languages and also visited foreign national prisoners at HMP Canterbury.

His daughter Clare Williamson said: “His motivation to visit prisoners was his response to Jesus’s call to help the weak, the helpless and the outcast.

"He met men from fractured lives who had ended up in prison due to having few choices in life.

"Sometimes he felt depressed at his inadequacy to help with the problems. But occasionally there were small successes that kept him going.”

A specialist in organometallic chemistry, he spent most of his life as a university teacher in chemistry and retired in 2005.

The university’s dean of sciences, Professor Mark Burchell, said: “He enjoyed teaching and was a clear minded and calming influence in the chemistry laboratory and faculty of natural sciences.”

Mr Connor is survived by Meriel, 78, daughters Clare, 50, and Sarah Evans, 48, and six grandchildren.