A HUSBAND died after choking on a piece of a steak at a restaurant while celebrating his 57th wedding anniversary, a coroner heard.

An inquest today at Basingstoke Magistrates Court heard how Michael Arnold Pitts, 84, of Old Basing, was celebrating his wedding anniversary with his wife Joan, on June 16, when a piece of the ribeye steak he was eating became lodged in his throat.

The inquest heard that after he was put in the recovery position, and having had CPR performed on him by various members of the public and staff of the Grapevine Bistro in Odiham, an ambulance arrived to take him to hospital.

However, at Basingstoke Hospital it was confirmed that he had died of asphyxia due to the lodged food at 9:44pm.

Speaking at the inquest, Mrs Pitts said: “The hospital and their staff worked extremely hard to help Michael, and everyone who helped in the restaurant was wonderful.

"It was really kind of the police to take me to the hospital as well.”

Recording a verdict of a misadventure, North East Hampshire coroner Andrew Bradley said: “This was a celebration that went wrong, and it was a disaster.

"It is a very sad matter, and a tragedy. Everyone did all they could to help.”