A SOUTHAMPTON man died after choking on food, an inquest opening heard.

The daughter of 78-year-old Ronald George Gordon Ward called 999 after hearing him struggle whilst eating.

Paramedics attended the house in Pine Drive East and attempted CPR, but were unable to save Mr Ward's life.

He was pronounced dead at the scene on May 7.

In the opinion of Dr Matthew Sommerlad, who performed a post mortem on the body, Mr Ward died from upper airway obstruction, with vascular dementia contributing.

Senior coroner Christopher Wilkinson has adjourned the full inquest to November 25.