The investigation shows that a 59-year-old football fan who broke his spine during a fall at the stadium died after asking to be disconnected from life support.

Investigation findings show that the fan, who broke his spine after falling at the stadium, asked to be put on life support instead of spending the rest of his life on a respirator and in a wheelchair.

Father-of-four Simon Oakley (59) was watching his team Southampton FC with a friend when he fell down 10 concrete steps in the stand as he entered the arena for half-time.

Nearby fans alerted stewards and paramedics to the situation, and one off-duty ambulance worker performed chest compressions as Mr Oakley lay on the ground.

The emergency caused a 10-minute delay to the start of the second half of last year’s Championship clash between Saints and Rotherham United at St Mary’s Stadium, but more importantly sparked calls for the introduction of guardrails in football stadiums.

Mr Oakley was taken from the ground to Southampton General Hospital where he was transferred to the Neurological Intensive Care Unit and cared for until his death.

An inquest at Winchester Coroner’s Court in Hampshire heard that Mr Oakley had undergone an MRI scan which revealed two fractures to his spine which left him paralyzed from the neck down.

Consultants at the hospital told him 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, said he would rather die instead.

Over the next three weeks, he was assessed repeatedly to ensure he had the capacity to make such a decision, and doctors concluded that treating him against his will would be illegal.

He was visited by family and friends, as well as the hospital chaplain, on November 13, before his ventilator was turned off at 3 p.m., and Mr. Oakley died half an hour later.

A few weeks earlier, Mr Oakley was also visited by former Southampton defender Francis Benali, who played 373 matches for the team between 1988 and 2004.

Mr Oakley’s beloved Saints paid tribute to the late fan during his first home match since his death, against Bristol City on November 29, with a 59th-minute round of applause and an image of their father displayed on the screen.

We also encourage other fans to sign the book of condolence.

A spokesman for the club said at the time: “Everyone at Southampton Football Club stands together in solidarity and expresses our deepest condolences to the grieving family.

“Throughout this challenging journey, the Saints community and club management have supported the family, offering support and comfort.

“We will continue to honor Simon’s memory and offer our support in any way we can during this difficult time. 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 after his death.

“It’s an amazing and brave thing,” said his brother Brian Daily echo. “Giving ourselves so that others could live, we will always remember him.”

Southampton’s deputy coroner, Kiran Chahal Musgrave, returned an open verdict at the inquest into Mr Oakley’s death, finding there was insufficient evidence as to how he fell.

She said: “He may have tripped or been pushed, intentionally or not, but there is a lack of evidence as to which of these possibilities may have occurred.

“I would like to express my sincere condolences.”

Mr Oakley was at the match with his friend Andy Takl, who witnessed him coming down the stairs into the hall just before half-time.

In a statement read by the coroner, Takle said: “I was standing next to Simon watching the match and the next thing I saw was him coming down the stairs in front of me.

– I couldn’t catch him, we ran to the stairs to get down just before half-time.

We weren’t drunk, we had at most two pints, one in the pub and one at the stadium.

“When he made the decision in November, I knew it was what he really wanted.”

Another eyewitness previously told the Daily Echo that “it was probably about five minutes before the stewards realized what was happening.”

Mel Adamson added that stewards handed out bottles of water after Mr Oakley was taken to hospital to help “shocked” spectators.

After the hearing, Oakley’s 84-year-old brother, Brian, called for handrails to be introduced at football facilities.

“We said from the very beginning that there should be guardrails,” he said. It wouldn’t cost a fortune to support this football club.

I’m sure the handrails could have made a difference. I do not blame Southampton Football Club in any way. It was an accident.

“But I think it would be a good idea to install them on wide stairs. This is essential. I just wish something would come out of it, that they would do something from then on.