A FORMER mechanical engineer who choked to death on a portion of fish and chips died as the result of an accident, an inquest ruled.

Steve Boon suffered from Parkinson's Disease, which contributed to his death, Dorset Coroner Rachael Griffin heard.

But Mrs Griffin said his death was accidental because, if he had not been eating, he would not have died at that time, despite being in poor health.

A Bournemouth inquest heard that Mr Boon and his wife, Alison, were sitting in their car at Rockley viewpoint in Poole eating their lunch when Mr Boon, 63, started to choke at around 1.30pm on April 17 this year.

His wife tried to assist him and called for help from passers-by. They carried out CPR until an ambulance arrived but he was pronounced dead on arrival at Poole Hospital.

Mr Boon, of Hibbs Close, Poole, worked for Hamworthy Engineering for 37 years before being made redundant in 2010. He suffered from diabetes, Parkinson's Disease and arthritis, the coroner was told.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mrs Griffin said: "It could have happened at any time. The choking was a spontaneous event with unintended consequences."