A pensioner who died after being stung by a wasp had had a similar experience 12 months earlier, it was revealed at an inquest.

Ian Flack, 76, who helped several local people with their gardening, suffered an anaphylactic shock while working in a garden at Llanbedr DC, on October 24 last year.

Passers-by and a passing vet who was flagged down tried to resuscitate him but he was certified dead at the scene.

Mr Flack, a retired forestry worker, of Cae’r Hafod Canol, Bontuchel, near Ruthin, was carrying out work for Mrs Eileen Jones at her home, Cedar Cottage, when he was stung, and when she returned home he was sitting in his van.

He said he had been stung by a bee and felt unwell. He went to sit in her porch but as she called a doctor he collapsed, so she dialled 999.

In a statement read at the Ruthin hearing Mrs Jones said his face was purple, and his lips and face were swollen.

A defibrillator was brought from the nearby village hall but there were no signs of life, and paramedics confirmed that he had died.

A post-mortem examination by Dr Mared Owen-Casey confirmed that he had died of anaphylactic shock but there was nothing to indicate he had been stung.

His GP, Dr Peter Leatt, said that in October 2017 Mr Flack had called in the surgery complaining of feeling unwell after being stung in the back of the neck and his breathing was quite fast.

He did not have any serious reaction and recovered after sitting in the waiting-room for a while. He was then prescribed antihistamine.

Recording a conclusion of accidental death, Joanne Lees, assistant coroner for North Wales East and Central, said it was likely that Mr Flack, whose long-term partner Beryl died of natural causes four days after him, had been stung by more than one wasp on the day he died.