THE founder of the UK mental health charity SANE died after developing seizures months after collapsing on a cruise ship in the Far East, an inquest has heard.

Charles Edward Bracken MBE, aged 85, hit his head after collapsing on the ship while on a cruise holiday in Japan last April.

He was travelling with his wife, Madeline, who gave evidence at the inquest held at Dorset Coroner's Court, Bournemouth Town Hall.

Mrs Bracken said: "Charles was on very good form; we were very excited about the trip.

"He was a very active man and looked far younger than his years."

She told the hearing that as soon as she saw her husband after being informed of his collapse onboard, she immediately knew something was wrong.

Medics would later conclude Mr Bracken, a retired retail director from Banks Road, Poole, had suffered an intracerebral bleed which caused the collapse.

He hit his head because of the collapse and suffered a subdural haematoma.

Assistant Dorset Coroner Brendan Allen said: "Charles Edward Bracken was an intelligent man with many and varied interests, and an active social life.

"He had been awarded an MBE for his work with SANE, a mental health charity that he founded."

Mr Bracken suffered a collapse onboard the ship and hit his head on April 28, 2019.

"It was clear from the start, from the evidence I have heard from Mrs Bracken, that he was exhibiting signs of some form of head injury, whether that be from some spontaneous bleed from a stroke or whether that was a consequence of the traumatic injury where he hit his head," said Mr Allen.

The cruise ship captain then turned his vessel around and headed back to post so Mr Bracken could be taken to hospital.

What followed was a lengthy period in a number of hospitals, initially in Japan and then in London.

When ready and medically able he was discharged form hospital into a flat with his wife in London, where his rehabilitation continued.

But it was at this time, early September 2019, he suffered his first seizure.

Mr Allen said: "He had no history of seizure whatsoever and I'm satisfied from the evidence that is available to me that this seizure, and the seizures that followed, were a consequence of the brain injury that was sustained on April 28, both from his stoke and the trauma."

After moving back to Poole Mr Bracken went into palliative care at The Lindsay Care Home, Lindsay Road, Poole, where he passed away on January 27 this year.

Wife Madeline Bracken said: "It was devastating when the seizures started.

"He passed away knowing he was much loved, very comfortable and pain free.

"It was devastating that a man that was in such good health should be in such decline."