Two rapid punches to the head led to the death of a 43-year-old man, an inquest heard.

Wayne Duck died in hospital five days after suffering serious head injuries in Pudding Lane, Maidstone on Thursday, February 10 2022.

An inquest held at County Hall heard the business owner and local footballer, who played for Park Royal FC, was knocked unconscious in the street by the blows.

He fell backwards to the ground cracking his head violently on the ground.

However, Jack Cadwallader, the man who delivered the punches and was originally arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm, was subsequently cleared of any blame after the police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) concluded he had acted in self-defence.

Mr Duck, from Maidstone, suffered a fracture to his skull and severe brain injuries.

He was flown to Kings College Hospital in London by air ambulance where he received. intensive medical care.

However, despite an operation to relieve the pressure on his brain he suffered multiple organ failures and died five days later from a cardiac arrest on February 15.

The injuries to his brain were subsequently investigated by a specialist neuro-consultant, who concluded they were entirely consistent with his head violently hitting the pavement.

A post mortem examination confirmed Mr Duck had no other medical condition that would in any way have contributed to his death.

Coroner James Dillon heard that Mr Duck had been part of a group of eight or nine friends who had gone drinking in the Old House at Home pub in Pudding Lane, Maidstone, on Thursday, February 10, after attending the funeral of the partner of one of the men, Jason Tharpe.

Two other men, Mr Cadwallader and Adam Stainton, entered the pub, and observing the first group were dressed in suits, asked if they had been to a wedding.

Whether the comment was intended maliciously was unclear, but it sparked a hostile reaction from some of the mourners and a row resulted, with swearing from both sides, the court heard.

Mr Cadwallader and Mr Stainton then took their drinks to the benches outside the pub, where they encountered more members of the funeral party and the row continued.

At one stage, one of the mourners pushed Mr Cadwallader in the chest and pressed him up against the wall and it was at this stage that Mr Duck came out of the bar.

His family, mother Linda Duck, and partner Rebecca Pooley, believe that Mr Duck was trying to separate the men and cool things down.

However, shortly afterwards CCTV showed Mr Cadwallader trying to leave the area around the pub and walking backwards along Pudding Lane, pursued by Mr Duck and others.

DS Nicola Lincoln said that Mr Duck appeared to approach Mr Cadwallader in an aggressive manner.

Mr Cadwaller turned to leave, but Mr Duck again approached him. Mr Cadwallader turned to face him but continued to walk backwards, trying to move away.

DS Lincoln said that Mr Duck was then joined by Jason Tharpe, and that Mr Duck tried to strike Mr Cadwallader but missed.

Mr Cadwallader then punched Mr Duck twice in quick succession before running off pursued by members of the funeral party.

He later told police: "I had no choice but to defend myself."

DS Lincoln said that the statements obtained from various witnesses were contradictory, but that the evidence from CCTV had been clear.

The CPS concluded that Mr Cadwallader had been acting in self defence.

Its decision was later independently reviewed but the panel reached the same conclusion.

The coroner said there was "no doubt" that Mr Cadwallader had struck the blow that led to Mr Duck's death.

He said: "As there is no audio on the CCTV we shall never know exactly who said what to whom."

But he said it was clear that Mr Stainton and Mr Cadwallader had been trying to leave the area and members of the funeral party had gone after them.

He recorded the cause of death as head injury and gave a narrative verdict.

In a joint statement read to the court, Mr Duck's mother and his partner said: "Wayne was a devoted family man. A much-loved son, daddy, partner and friend to many.

"He was a handsome, caring, funny, outgoing and charming man.

"He was – and still is – loved and missed by so many."

'He was not an aggressive man'

They said: "Losing Wayne has broken our hearts and destroyed our lives leaving a big void for us all."

"It is impossible to explain our feelings of loss.

"The fatal accident only occurred because Wayne was out supporting his friend after attending a funeral of a friend's loved one.

"Wayne stepped in to prevent a fight that had started and became the victim.

"His life being taken was an avoidable situation and his family and girls are now faced with going through life without him."

Mrs Duck said the family had been allowed to review all the CCTV footage themselves.

She said: "Wayne's friends started the fight. He was not the instigator.

"He was not an aggressive man."