A PENSIONER who smashed into two vehicles in his car, died of a heart attack, an inquest heard.

The Burnley hearing was told how James Papworth, 70, died three days after the accident on Eastern Avenue, Burnley, but a pathologist couldn't say if he suffered the attack immediately before the crash.

The car, driven by Mr Papworth, who was transferred to Macclesfield District General Hospital because no intensive care beds were available locally, had bounced off one vehicle and then hit another head-on in the crash, on August 10.

The hearing had earlier been told Mr Papworth, of Berwick Drive, Burnley, had suffered a heart attack three years before. It was believed no serious damage had been caused and he had since been in good health.

On August 10, he had felt tired and complained of indigestion, but later went to a dental appointment. He was later involved in the accident and died at the Macclesfield hospital without regaining consciousness.

Mrs Pamela Newham, of Clover Hill Road, Nelson, said she had been driving along Eastern Avenue towards Burnley town centre when a car coming in the opposite direction looked as if it was going straight at her. She swerved, but the car hit her. She saw Mr Papworth slumped to one side, looking very ill. Mrs Newham went on: "By that time, people were shouting 'heart attack,' and that sort of thing." She said her vehicle was written off and she suffered ankle and whiplash injuries.

In a statement, Vanessa Hurst, of Fields Road, Haslingden, who was driving her BMW in front of Mrs Newham's Rover, said Mr Papworth's vehicle seemed to be weaving slightly. She moved out of the way, but it hit her, before colliding with the car behind 'head-on.' Pathologist Dr Zuhair Twaij, told the hearing Mr Papworth did not suffer any external injuries. He had fractured ribs, but no lung damage. The three coronary arteries to the heart were severely damaged and there was a lot of evidence of severe heart disease.

The doctor said Mr Papworth had had a heart attack, due to heart disease, but he could not say it had happened immediately before the accident, although, in his opinion, he believed it occurred before the crash. It happened at least 24 hours before Mr Papworth's death and probably less than five days before.

East Lancs coroner David Smith, recorded a verdict of death from natural causes. Mr Papworth's Vauxhall Carlton had been examined and found to be in good working order with no defects.

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