A WREXHAM woman died after choking on food on a river cruise while on holiday, an inquest heard. 

Rose Anne Edwards, of Marcella Crescent, Marchwiel, died at  Valence Hospital in the south of France on October 21, 2023. 

At County Hall in Ruthin on Tuesday (March 19), an inquest was held into the 78-year-old retired nurse's death. 

It heard that Mrs Edwards, and her husband, Phillip, had booked the holiday to celebrate their wedding anniversary.

They were on a river cruise along the River Rhone when the boat stopped at the village of Viviers. During an evening meal on October 20 with family on board the boat, Mrs Edwards began to choke on a piece of food. 

The inquest heard that Mrs Edwards' daughter had begun patting her on the back and the ship's crew, and a doctor who was on board, came over to help. Mrs Edwards fell unconscious and was taken to hospital. 

The following day, scans revealed that Mrs Edwards had suffered brain death, and a decision was made to withdraw her life support at 8.30pm. 

A cause of death was recorded as cardiorespiratory arrest complicated by cerebral hypoxia, secondary to choking on food. 

The inquest heard that Mrs Edwards didn't have any underlying health issues that would have meant she had a propensity to choke on food, with John Gittins, senior coroner for North Wales East and Central, describing it as an "awful accident".

Mr Edwards paid tribute to the efforts of all those who helped his wife, saying the boat’s crew were "amazing". 

Mr Gittins recorded a conclusion of accidental death.