AN undiagnosed heartbeat irregularity probably claimed the life of a 37-year-old Oswaldtwistle man, an inquest in Blackburn heard.

Warehouseman Ian Philip Cocksedge, who had no previous history of heart problems, was found dead in bed by his wife, Susan, at their home in Trinity Street.

Pathologist Dr William Lawler said he was unable to formally identify the cause of death.

But his findings supported a conclusion that it was some form of heart problem associated with irregularities of the heartbeat.

Dr Lawler said such problems affecting a very small minority of people might well go undetected and undiagnosed.

He added: "Some have a diagnosis made because they have symptoms but there are some who don't and some who die suddenly and unexpectedly, rather like Mr Cocksedge, when there has been no suggestion of any previous heart problem."

Coroner Andre Rebello said he was satisfied Mr Cocksedge died from heart failure and recorded a verdict of natural causes.

Mr Cocksedge, who died in January, worked as a warehouseman at Gaskell Textiles and then at GEC Engineering, Clayton-le-Moors.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.