PHOTOGRAPHER Jack Barry died just moments after complaining of what he thought was indigestion, an inquest was told.

The popular and highly respected freelance, who worked for the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, had not been to see a doctor in 43 years and had rarely taken a day off work.

And his widow Ann said Jack's death had come as a terrible shock to her and her two children, Caroline Mahon and Jonathon Barry, also a photographer with the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

Mrs Barry, of Royshaw Avenue, Blackburn, told the inquest that Jack, 59, had always been interested in journalism and loved working in that area.

She said that throughout his time as a photographer with the Evening Telegraph and the Clitheroe Advertiser, Jack was always committed to his work and if there was a job to be done he would always make himself available.

Jack had been working on the night of his death and when he returned home Ann made him a sandwich.

He said he was too tired to eat it all and went to bed.

Shortly after he came down and asked if Ann had anything for indigestion and she gave him a Rennie.

That seemed to ease his discomfort and they both went to bed.

Ann said that about 5am Jack woke up complaining of indigestion again and she told him to take another tablet.

"Within a minute he made a terrible groaning sound in his throat," said Ann. "I switched the light on and he was dead."

She said Jack had not complained of any other symptoms and had never suffered from indigestion before.

"He had pneumonia when he was a teenager but in 43 years he had never been to see a doctor," said added.

A post mortem examination showed that Jack died of heart disease and deputy coroner Carolyn Singleton recorded a verdict of natural causes.