AN OLYMPIC gold medallist died of an allergic reaction, but to what remained a mystery after an inquest.

Ken Matthews, who won the 20-kilometre walk at the 1964 Games in Tokyo, died at Wrexham Maelor Hospital on June 2 last year, just hours after being taken there from the Hillbury Care Home where he had been living.

The 84-year-old, who suffered from dementia and also had a heart condition, was one of four Britons to win gold at the Games but the only one not to be made an MBE immediately afterwards. It was only after a public outcry that he received the honour in 1977.

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Ken Matthews

Born and brought up in Birmingham, he trained by walking around the Hams Hall power-station where he worked as an electrician. He won the British titles in all three walking events in 1959, 1961, 1963 and 1964 and also won gold in the 1962 European Championships.

He and his wife Sheila moved to Wrexham in the 1960s and for many years he worked as a manager in the town’s Rogers and Jackson store. After giving up race-walking he became a very keen cyclist, specialising in time trials.

The inquest in Ruthin heard that staff at the Hillbury home noticed on the evening of June 2 that his breathing was “chesty”. He was taken to hospital, where doctors also described his breathing as “laboured”.

His care plans showed that he had been receiving his normal medication and had been eating and drinking normally.

Consultant pathologist Dr Huyen Abdel Salam said that Mr Matthews died of an allergic reaction.

Joanne Lees, assistant coroner for North Wales East and Central, said she had asked for a fuller explanation and been told that it was likely to have occurred in one specific part of the body as opposed to the whole body.

“It is very difficult to know what substance caused it, if indeed it was a substance as opposed to a bite,” said Mrs Lees.

Mr Matthews’ son Ian said he was not aware of his father having been allergic to anything and Mrs Lees said his general poor health would have compromised his ability to cope with any allergic reaction.

“I wish I had the answer to give you and I did my best to obtain it,” she said. “It could have been some sort of insect bite or something in the air. We simply do not know.”

Recording a conclusion of accidental death, she added: “Although he had a heart condition it is unlikely he would have passed away on June 2 had he not had the allergic reaction.”

Ian Matthews told the inquest that his father was very proud of his Olympic achievement and was always happy to discuss it.