A man woke in the morning gasping for breath before he died, an inquest has heard.

Carl Smith, 34, of Old Bear Court, North Walsham, died on January 4 2019 of unknown circumstances.

Norfolk Coroners Court, in Carrow House, Norwich, heard how Mr Smith was a healthy, active man who enjoyed gardening, surfing and kick-boxing.

He had moved to Norfolk from Bedford to help his mother, Margaret Smith, care for his father who had a brain injury after a motorcycle accident.

Mr Smith had gone to bed at 1am and woke at about 6.30am, sitting up-right gasping for breath. His partner, Susan Peters, called an ambulance and was instructed to get him out of bed and lay him on the floor to start chest compressions. The ambulance crew arrived and took over.

Mr Smith was taken to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital but later died.

Area Coroner Yvonne Blake, concluded the death was unascertained.