AN ELDERLY man died after choking on a biscuit while visiting his wife in a nursing home, an inquest heard.

John Elton, 78, suffered a cardiac arrest after his airways became blocked by food on November 30.

Mr Elton, of Orlham Lane, Ledbury had been visiting his wife in Ledbury Nursing Home when he started choking on a biscuit at around 4pm.

An inquest into his death held at Hereford Town Hall on Wednesday heard that despite attempts to clear his airway and CPR carried out by nursing home staff and paramedics he died shortly after arriving at Hereford County Hospital.

County Coroner Mark Bricknell concluded a verdict of accidental death.

He said: "He was visiting his wife in a nursing home when he choked on food.

"Assistance was given by those at the home but unfortunately before his airway could be clear he suffered a cardiac arrest.

"Paramedics continued to give him treatment however, Mr Elton didn't survive."

Mr Bricknell said that the cause of death was cardiac arrest caused by the obstruction of the airway by food.