A MASTER blacksmith choked to death on a piece of meat in a West Somerset public house without anybody noticing, an inquest into his death heard.

Colin Comrie used to run the renowned Strawberry Steel, at Ox House Forge, in Cleeve, North Somerset, but had moved to live in Holloway Street, Minehead.

He had more than 30 years’ experience and had exhibited all over the world and was a trained teacher, passing on the art of traditional blacksmithing to others.

Mr Comrie died on October 30 last year, aged 55.

He had gone with a friend in the evening to the JD Wetherspoon public house the Duke of Wellington, in Wellington Square, Minehead, and had been drinking alcohol.

About 45 minutes later a member of staff noticed Mr Comrie appeared to be asleep.

The pub manager tried to wake him but there was no response and an ambulance was called.

A Wetherspoon spokesman told the Free Press: “During the call, CPR was administered by the pub manager under the direction of the call handler.

“Later, a defibrillator was used by two off-duty medical professionals who were in the pub.

“The pub was closed and Mr Comrie’s care was taken over by the emergency services, but their attempts to revive him were sadly unsuccessful.

“We would like to express our condolences to Mr Comrie’s family and friends.”

Somerset assistant coroner Stephen Covell said Glasgow-born Mr Comrie was declared dead just over an hour later.

Mr Covell said the cause of death was asphyxia ‘as a result of choking on a piece of meat contributed to by alcohol intoxication’.

He concluded death was ‘accidental’.