Crisps blamed for choking death

A 35-year-old man choked to death while eating crisps in a van on the A12 in Essex, an inquest has heard.

Iain Ward, of Ilford, a map reader for a Chinese food wholesaler, was a passenger in the delivery van when the incident happened at Marks Tey, Essex.

The inquest at Chelmsford heard that an ambulance was called when Mr Ward began choking in the late afternoon on 18 July 2007.

Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray recorded a verdict of accidental death.

"As they were driving down the A12, near to Marks Tey, he sat bolt upright and was unable to draw breath," coroner's officer Tim Jeffs said.

Tragic accident

He was pronounced dead a short time later after being taken to hospital in Colchester.

Post-mortem tests found he died from asphyxiation due to inhaled food.

No alcohol or drugs were found in his system, the hearing was told.

Mr Ward, who was single, worked for the wholesaler based in Chadwell Heath, Essex.

Mrs Beasley-Murray said: "It was the most tragic of accidents. It was an absolutely one-off occasion."