Butcher, 76, choked to death on ‘exceptionally large’ piece of meat while tucking into roast dinner, inquest told

A RETIRED butcher choked to decease connected an "exceptionally large" portion of nutrient portion eating a roast dinner, an inquest heard.

Albert Hartgen, 76, was tucking into the repast conscionable days earlier Christmas erstwhile the calamity unfolded.

The inquest heard Albert's airway became obstructed and helium passed distant connected December 17 past year.

Senior Somerset Coroner Samantha Marsh said: “He was eating a roast meal erstwhile helium began to choke, having enactment an exceptionally ample portion of nutrient successful his mouth.”

The coroner ruled Albert's horrific decease arsenic accidental.

Albert ran a household butcher store with woman Heather for much than 30 years earlier helium retired successful 2017.

Heather described her precocious hubby arsenic “well known and good liked” and said that “everybody knew what benignant of a antheral helium was.”

Albert was besides a longtime unpaid with the RNLI and was commended for his bravery erstwhile successful 1975 helium helped to rescue 3 radical from a sinking yacht.

Paying tribute to his dad, lad Ross said: “Albert was astatine location connected the oversea and took each accidental to spell sportfishing implicit the astir 50 years arsenic a charter skipper.

“Having served arsenic the past rescue swimmer successful the RNLI astatine Minehead successful the precocious 1970s arsenic good arsenic moving a section butcher, his existent passionateness was oversea sportfishing which helium shared with truthful galore radical implicit the years.

“He was a loving hubby to Heather, begetter to Clare and myself, stepfather to Lee, grandad to Annaliese, Corey and Bodhi and volition beryllium missed by truthful many.

“May you remainder successful bid and whitethorn just winds blow. Sleep casual Dad and you were ever the best.”

As good arsenic his lengthy work for the RNLI, Albert besides raised money for the charity by carrying retired endurance feats.

These included 2 foundation swims betwixt Minehead and the adjacent coastal municipality of Watchet.