A coroner has praised two police officers who fought to save the life of a man they had just arrested.

Detectives James Burbridge and Gemma Smith were taking Paul Wilson, 55, into custody when they realised how ill he was, so he was de-arrested and they decided to take him straight to hospital.

His condition deteriorated, however, and so DC Burbridge pulled into the Ewloe service station on the A55, ran into Starbucks coffee shop to see if they had a defibrillator. They did not have one, so the officer, assisted by two members of the public, carried out CPR until paramedics arrived.

They took over, but after 20 minutes confirmed that Mr Wilson had died.

Home Office pathologist Dr Brian Rodgers told an inquest in Ruthin that Mr Wilson had suffered a massive pulmonary embolism, or clot, due to a femoral thrombosis, with morbid obesity a contributory factor. Other smaller clots were present which had probably exacerbated his breathing problems on that day.

“It was not related to any stressful situation such as his arrest,” he said.

DC Burbridge was one of eight officers who went to arrest the supermarket security officer at 6.45am on February 12.

No details of the reasons for the action were revealed at today’s hearing but the officers had a warrant to search his flat in Halkyn Street, Flint, where he lived with his wife Linda.

“He understood the reason for our attendance,” said DC Burbridge.

Mr Wilson, who weighed over 21 stones, had Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), for which he used an inhaler, and also suffered from gout. In November, 2018, he underwent stomach surgery for a hernia and was off work for several weeks.

After he had dressed the officers escorted him downstairs to their unmarked car, where his breathing difficulties meant that he had to rest his hands on the vehicle.

He initially got in the rear seat but as it was cramped he then moved to the front passenger seat, which was lowered to make him more comfortable.

DC Burbridge set out for St Asaph custody suite but Mr Wilson’s breathing got worse and he was perspiring.

“His breathing was not getting any better and I wasn’t happy that it was someone who should be going into police custody,” he said. “He was becoming increasingly unwell and I felt I needed to pull over to get an ambulance.”

It was decided to take him directly to Glan Clwyd Hospital, but they joined the A55 where there was only an eastbound sliproad. While his colleague called an ambulance DC Burbridge pulled into the Ewloe service station.

“I had his welfare at the front of my mind all the time,” he said. “My focus was on getting him the care he needed as quickly as possible and I am only sorry that my lifesaving actions were not enough.”

Mr Wilson got out of the car but then collapsed, and DC Burbridge administered CPR.

DC Smith told the inquest: “I tried to comfort him because I thought he was panicking and struggling to breathe.”

No members of Mr Wilson’s family were present at the hearing but in a statement read by David Pojur, assistant coroner for North Wales East and Central, his wife Linda said his mobility had got worse in recent weeks.

Referring to the morning of his arrest, she commented: “He was calm and seemed to accept what the officers were doing.”

Mrs Wilson, a charity worker, said all the officers had acted very professionally throughout, ensuring that her son attended before telling her what had happened to her husband.

Recording a conclusion of natural causes, Mr Pojur said was clear that the officers and members of the public did all they could to assist Mr Wilson.

“The police are to be commended for their efforts and determination in giving this man all the assistance they could,” he added.

“I am satisfied that the intervention of the police was not a contributory factor to his demise.”