A "kind and caring" man with a love for travel died while on holiday in Vietnam with his wife following heart surgery, an inquest has heard.

The inquest into the death of Derek Owen was held at Suffolk Coroner's Court by Dr Daniel Sharpstone.

It heard that Mr Owen, 68, lived in Bungay with his wife after moving to the town to retire in 2018.

In their retirement they desired to travel more and enjoy the countryside.

On April 23, 2023, the couple left their Bungay home for a "dream" holiday in Vietnam.

Throughout the trip, Mr Owen suffered from persistent headaches and fevers. Then on May 1, 2023, he suffered a stroke.

Beccles & Bungay Journal: Derek Owen died in Ho Chi Minh City on May 12, 2023Derek Owen died in Ho Chi Minh City on May 12, 2023 (Image: Newsquest)

He was admitted to the University Medical Centre in Ho Chi Minh City where his condition worsened.

On May 8, 2023, Mr Owen underwent critical open heart surgery due to an aortic valve becoming weak.

But while recovering from the surgery, on May 12, 2023, Mr Owen died from a large haemorrhage of the heart due to the aortic valves being weak.

COMPLAINTS

Mrs Owen said in a statement that her "world stopped" after Mr Owen died.

She lodged complaints against Bungay Medical Practice and Papworth Hospital.

His wife was unhappy with Bungay Medical Centre not providing documents the insurance company requested until eight days after Mr Owen was admitted to the Vietnamese hospital.

Beccles & Bungay Journal: Mr Owen's wife complained about Bungay Medical Centre after her husband diedMr Owen's wife complained about Bungay Medical Centre after her husband died (Image: Archant © 2017)

The surgery said they had made policy changes following the incident and apologised for the delay and "distress" caused to Mrs Owen.

The coroner sympathised with Mrs Owen who was "left on her own" in an "unfamiliar country and setting", with her "life partner becoming drastically unwell".

WIFE'S HEARTBREAKING TRIBUTE

A statement read on behalf of Mrs Owen said her husband had a "love of aviation" which stemmed from plane models he made as a child and from his dad fighting for the RAF in Burma.

Mr Owen had a love for motorbikes and rode to work each day regardless of the weather.

He was described as a "kind and loving" and a "gentle, gracious, sensitive "funny" man.

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Beccles & Bungay Journal: Aerial view of Bungay where Mr Owen and his wife moved to enjoy their retirement in 2018 taken by Mike PageAerial view of Bungay where Mr Owen and his wife moved to enjoy their retirement in 2018 taken by Mike Page (Image: Mike Page)

 

Mrs Owen said the "sudden and unexpected loss" of her husband has been a "crushing loss causing heartbreak that can never be healed".

In addition, she said "the traumas continue to impact me daily", "my world stopped on that day" and "not a day goes by without yearning for his presence". 

The coroner read the medical cause of death to be a catastrophic haemorrhage of the aortic valve in the heart after the operation.