Ceri Ball, 74, has been described as the ‘matriarch’ of her family
A mum died after choking on steak while on holiday with her husband in Spain, an inquest heard.
Ceri Ball, 74, and her husband Glyn, 77, booked a meal in the coastal town of Peñíscola, near Valencia.
But within seconds of eating the steak, Mrs Ball began choking.
An inquest into the mum’s death was opened at Gwent Coroner’s Court by coroner Rose Farmer.
A provisional post mortem examination report indicated she died from asphyxiation, obstruction and choking, the court heard.
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Daughter Lisa Lisseman, 54, said her parents had been in Spain for a few months, WalesOnline reports.
She said: “My mum and dad have a home from home out in Spain.
“They’d been there a few months and were due to come home next week. They’d gone out, had a lovely day and went out for a meal.
“Mum took a mouthful and it got stuck in her throat. Dad said she was unconscious in seconds, and everyone tried to help her.
“The waiter tried to help her, and someone phoned an ambulance.”
Grandmother Mrs Ball, from Rogerstone, Newport, was rushed to Comarcal de Vinaròs hospital.
She could not be saved and died on October 17, the day after the ordeal.
Lisa said: “They got the food out twenty minutes later and restarted her heart. They tried to keep her on machines overnight for me and my sister Helen to get over to Spain, and we didn’t make it.
“Dad was there on his own, and they basically said to Dad her brain was too damaged. He said his goodbyes and left.”
Paying tribute, Lisa said: “Our beautiful mum, wife, grandmother [Gigi] died in the most tragic of circumstances.
“She was our matriarch, she was the queen, she was opinionated, but she cared about everyone. We are heartbroken.
“If something happened to someone else, she would be the first to help them, arranging a charity day and cooking for them.
“She was so selfless.”
A full post mortem examination is yet to be carried out. The inquest was adjourned until July 23, 2026.
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