A CARDIGAN man who choked to death on a kebab in a town pub had been battling alcoholism after suffering abuse as a child, an inquest has heard.

David, or Dai ‘Radar’ Rees, died on the evening of Saturday, 9 September, after he purchased a take-away and choked to death when he attempted to eat it in the Lamb Inn on Finch Square, despite the “strenuous” attempts of his friend and the emergency services to resuscitate him.

A postmortem examination revealed Mr Rees, 51, of Feidrfair, had a blood alcohol level of 330mg per 100ml of blood, which is “approaching the fatal range for both males and females”, the coroner Peter Brunton said. The legal drink drive limit is 80mg per 100ml of blood.

Mr Rees’ friend Jonathan Broderick, who had been drinking with him in the Lamb Inn that night, rushed to his aid when other pub-goers found him lying on the floor of the toilets.

Mr Broderick, in a statement to the inquest, said: “All I heard was someone shouting for a first-aider from the pool room. I’m a first-aider and someone shouted ‘he’s in the toilets’.

“I went in and he was lying half-way in and half-way out of the toilet. I shouted for someone to call the ambulance. I felt for a pulse in his arm and neck, and found none.”

Mr Broderick said he proceeded to carry out CPR on Mr Rees, and continued to alternate compressions with a paramedic once an ambulance arrived.

Mr Rees’ GP, Dr Simon Knight, told the inquest that Mr Rees had a “long history of alcohol abuse”, and would sometimes have “in excess” of 20 pints per day.

Alcohol was a “coping mechanism”, said Dr Knight, after he suffered abuse between the ages of eight and 13 years old.

Dr Knight added that Mr Rees had until recently been on a detoxification programme.

Mr Rees had some alcohol-related ailments, including tears to the oesophagus, added Dr Knight.

Giving evidence, PC Amy Harvey said the kebab was likely bought from Rominos Pizza and Kebab, which is a few doors down from the Lamb Inn.

Returning a verdict of misadventure, Mr Brunton said: “The fact that he had a very high alcohol level suggests he must have gone to a number of pubs in Cardigan.

“Evidence shows he went out at some point to purchase a kebab from a shop a few doors away, and clearly attempted to eat it.

“The alarm was raised because someone was said to be in difficulty in the male lavatories.

“When Mr Broderick responded to call for help, he found his friend lying on the floor in the recovery position.

“Strenuous attempts at CPR were taken both by Mr Broderick and then the paramedics and fire crews, but to no avail.

“Lodged in his oesophagus were large chunks of kebab meat. In his highly intoxicated state, this produced a series of reaction which resulted in his death.”

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