A RETIRED shopkeeper died after a surgically inserted graft became infected.

An inquest heard that John Martin Sagar, 51, of Redhind Close, Newchurch-in-Rossen-dale, was admitted to Royal Blackburn Hospital on February 8 with a painful and numb right foot.

Four days later he underwent a femoral artery cross over graft operation. The graft subsequently became infected and was surgically removed on February 28. He died a day later.

The medical cause of death was septicaemia with chronic renal failure and heart disease contributing.