A window cleaner who had suffered from a heart attack died in hospital after his airway became blocked, a court heard. 

Carl Billimore, 55, died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn after being transferred to its intensive treatment unit on December 31 last year. 

He had previously been a patient at Papworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire following a cardiac arrest. 

On January 9, he began having trouble breathing but was not for resuscitation. He later died. 

Eastern Daily Press: Norfolk Coroner's Court at County Hall, NorwichNorfolk Coroner's Court at County Hall, Norwich (Image: Newsquest)

An inquest into his death was opened at Norfolk Coroner’s Court at County Hall, Norwich, on Friday, October 20. 

Led by area coroner Samantha Goward, the court heard that Mr Billimore lived at The Furrow in Littleport, near Ely. 

A pathologist gave the medical cause of death as asphyxiation due to an airway obstruction by insertion of a speaking valve with inflated cuff – medical equipment which may be used during a tracheostomy. 

He was also diagnosed with pulmonary artery atherosclerosis. 

A two-day inquest has been set to take place next year at Norfolk Coroner’s Court.