A WOMAN died following a heart attack during an operation at a Hampshire hospital, an inquest heard.

Joan Belchi-Franco, of Eastgate Street in Winchester, fell at home and fractured her hip before being admitted to Royal Hampshire County Hospital for a procedure to fix it on January 9.

She had previously been at the hospital from December 20 until January 6, when she was diagnosed with a heart condition.

Doctors had nearly finished the operation when the 87-year-old’s heart failed.

A temporary pacemaker was fitted and she was moved to intensive care, but a decision was made by staff along with her daughter, Sandra Loving, to not resuscitate her if it stopped again.

Mrs Belchi-Franco died on January 10.

Ms Loving said: “They were wonderful at the hospital. I know the doctors did everything they could. If she had survived her quality of life would not have been good.”

Deputy coroner for central Hampshire Simon Burge ruled a verdict of accidental death.

After the inquest Ms Loving paid tribute to her mother. She said: “I miss her. She was a special lady.”