A retired electrician died after undergoing a stomach operation, an inquest heard.

Frederick Hoare, 80, of George Street, Bicester, attended the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, on November 26 with gastric ulcers.

Surgeon Nicholas Maynard told Oxford Coroner's Court, on Wednesday, October 9, that Mr Hoare had stomach cancer which had not spread to other organs.

Surgery was the only option, despite the risk of complications and death.

Mr Maynard said his patient woke up normally from the operation and was comfortable.

Later his blood pressure dropped and he complained of abdominal pain.

While he was being taken for an urgent scan he suffered a heart attack. A second operation to check his abdomen revealed half a litre of blood had leaked through an internal bruise, causing his blood pressure to drop.

His condition deteriorated and he suffered multiple organ failure and died of bronchial pneumonia on December 18.

The inquest heard that Mr Hoare had suffered two previous heart attacks, and a post-mortem examination had shown no evidence of surgical mishap.

Coroner Nicholas Gardiner recorded a verdict that Mr Hoare had died following surgery that was necessary and properly performed.

He said: "Surgery clearly had something to do with it, but that is not to say that anything went wrong."