An inquest has found that inadequate care from the National Health Service (NHS) contributed to the death of Tim Hull, a man who had previously housed Ukrainian refugees. Hull, who lived in Worcester, spent seven months unable to move from a bed that was too small for him, according to reports.
Two months prior to his death in October 2025, Hull, who formerly ran a handyman business, spoke to the BBC about the significant delays he experienced in obtaining a hoist, a wheelchair, and a bed large enough for his needs while he was living at home. He recounted how his standard of living had become "very, very low," detailing struggles to access the appropriate doctors and social care.
These difficulties led Hull to make the decision to stop taking medication necessary to maintain the function of a transplanted kidney, which had been donated by his brother. He stated that dying "would be a better option than lying in bed 24 hours a day."
Hull suffered from Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP), a rare neurological condition unrelated to his height, which causes muscle spasms and weakness, often accompanied by pain, fatigue, and depression. He and his brother had previously held a Guinness World Record as the tallest twins in Britain.
As a result of the BBC's reporting on Hull's situation, local community teams began working with his family to install a ceiling hoist, a request that had been pending for three months, and to extend his existing bed. Prior to these interventions, Hull had spent two years in a standard NHS hospital bed, which he described as "hideously uncomfortable" and akin to "torture." An initial attempt to extend the bed resulted in a position that posed a choking risk. Mage7: url= | alt=Tim Hull lying in an NHS hospital bed in his home. He is clasping his hands together and looking towards the camera. He has a yellow towel around his neck for support and is wearing a white t-shirt with blue spots. | dimensions=480x270