A HOLIDAYMAKER died after choking on food at a Lake District hotel, an inquest heard.

Freda Cassell’s husband Colin, of Lanchester, Durham, described how the landlord and landlady of The Red Lion, Hawkshead, tried to save his 75-year-old wife when she collapsed during a meal in September.

The inquest heard that the couple, who had been married for 54 years, were regular visitors to the Lake District and that The Red Lion was their ‘usual pub’.

Mr Cassell said they were enjoying a meal of sausage and mash when his wife “started to cough and splutter.”

“I tried to help by patting her back, and then the landlord brought a glass of water across – she had a sip but it didn’t help.”

The landlady tried to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre on Mrs Cassell but her condition deteriorated and she collapsed.

The inquest heard that the landlady put Mrs Cassell into the recovery position and called the emergency services.

She was taken to Furness General Hospital but Mr Cassell said said that because she had had no oxygen to her brain for 20 minutes or more a decision was made to switch the ventilator off.

Alan Sharp, assistant coroner for south and east Cumbria, said Mrs Cassell died from bronchopneumonia caused by a brain injury, which in turn was caused by choking on food.

A conclusion of misadventure was recorded.