RETIRED welder Albert Gorton died following an operation for stomach cancer.

The operation to remove his stomach was his only chance of medium-term survival, an inquest in Burnley was told.

Mr Gorton, 70, of Briercliffe Road, Burnley, died at Burnley General Hospital on June 17.

Consultant surgeon Mr Errol Gross said Mr Gorton was admitted as an emergency patient on May 12 when they found evidence of stomach cancer. It was decided surgery was necessary but the operation on June 5 was postponed when Mr Gorton complained of chest pains. A major operation to remove his stomach took place on June 12. He made steady progress for a few days but then deteriorated. It was necessary to re-operate to try to recover the situation. A small leakage was found, possibly caused by a failure of the blood supply to that site.

Multi-organ failure had set in and the chances of him recovering were extremely slim. He died the next day.

Home Office pathologist Dr John Rutherford said the leak had led to infection causing general failure of the circulation. Surgery was the only chance he had of medium-term survival.

Recording a verdict of misadventure, East Lancashire Coroner David Smith said he had to have the operation otherwise he would have died from the cancer. He would not, however, have died when he did but for the surgical intervention, and that is why they had to have an inquest.

"There is no criticism of the surgical intervention or his medical treatment," he added. Mr Gorton's wife Sheila told the coroner: "I would like to thank Mr Gross and all the staff for what they did. They could not have done any more."