A 76-YEAR-OLD Moreton man choked on his lunch at the town's hospital and died later the same day an inquest heard.

Frederick Sluman of Newcroft Care Home, Moreton, was admitted to Cheltenham General Hospital on August 10 after injuring his right leg in a fall at his care home, Gloucestershire Coroner's Court was told at the inquest on January 27.

Mr Sluman was discharged back to his care home but admitted to the North Cotswold Hospital in Moreton on August 12 suffering from a urinary tract infection and continued pain from his fall.

Senior coroner for Gloucestershire Katy Skerrett said: "The deceased suffered from severe learning difficulties and the medical cause of death has been given as aspiration pneumonia.

"There were no fractures suffered in the fall but a post mortem found vegetable matter in the lungs, an enlarged heart and distended gall bladder."

Nurse Linda Edwards of the North Cotswold Hospital said in a written statement: "Mr Sluman had a fear of hospitals and he also had to be supervised when he ate his meals and the food had to be cut up into small pieces.

"On August 12 he vomited and had a slight temperature.

"The following day he ate his breakfast but during his lunch, although he was supervised he sat upright, chewed some food, drank some juice but then started to choke.

"There was response from other medical staff within ten seconds and CPR was commenced.

"A pulse was regained and he was taken to the acute unit of Cheltenham General Hospital."

The inquest then heard that Mr Sluman's condition deteriorated and he died later that day.

Ms Skerrett said Mr Sluman choked on his food and the cause of his death was aspiration pneumonia.

She recorded a verdict of accidental death.