A PENSIONER died as a result of injuries caused by a 30 year career in the coal mines, an inquest heard.

Mr John Leonard Moore, Reedyford Road, Nelson, died aged 76 in July after a three-day stay in hospital.

The inquest at Reedley Court heard that Mr Moore had suffered health problems like bronchitis and emphysema ever since retiring from the mines in the 1960s.

Mrs Margaret Moore, said her husband had worked in the coal mines from the age of 13.

His health had declined since retirement and he was bedbound at the time of his death.

She said they took him to hospital on July 10 because he was struggling to catch his breath.

He was improving and set to come home on the Thursday, but died the day before on July 18, she said.

A pathologist said a post mortem examination found that Mr Moore's lungs indicated damage from being a coal miner.

He said microscopic examination confirmed this.

Mr Moore's lung collapsed and caused him to choke, although the pathologist said the death would have been instant.

Coroner Richard Taylor said that Mr Moore died as a result of long suffering injuries from being a coal miner.