THE use of an oxygen machine had no bearing on the death of a Bingley sculptor, a Bradford inquest heard.

Graham Carey had bought the ioniser from Australia in a bid to improve his breathing, but died soon after getting the machine - raising concerns that the two events were linked.

However, Coroner Oliver Longstaff yesterday returned a verdict of natural causes due to a heart attack.

He said: "Mr Carey bought the ioniser and it happened that, soon afterwards, when he thought the setting might be too high or placement too close, he died.

"It is not surprising there have been concerns as to whether those two events were coincidental or connected.

"The post-mortem report explains a death which is completely outside ongoing concerns Mr Carey had about getting the ioniser."

Mr Carey died on June 9, 2012 at the age of 80 and an inquest was adjourned pending enquiries and investigations.

Pathologist Deirdre McKenna said Mr Carey had a history of hip replacements and prostate cancer and had complained of aches and pains and nausea.

The sculptor, who once used 200 nails from an old mill to depict Christ's crucifixion, died suddenly at his home at Granville Terrace, Bingley.

The retired Bingley College lecturer was said to have had a great interest in health matters and explored alternative therapies.

Dr Stan Switala of the Kang Da Clinic in Manningham had been seeing Mr Carey since 1996. By 2012, he said, Mr Carey had been desperate to address tiredness and bought the ioniser.

In a statement he said: "He had been unwell and asked me to go to his house. He was frightened and waiting for the GP. He said he was unwell after sleeping next to the ioniser.

"I told him not to use it again until we talked. The next I heard he was dead."

GP Dr Richard Newell of Bingley Medical Practice, said towards the end of his life, Mr Carey had been to the surgery because of feelings of unhappiness and fatigue.

Asked if the ioniser could have done him harm, Dr Newell said: "I am not in a position to say. But I am not aware of any effect on the system."

Mr Carey was born in Croydon, but moved to Bingley in the 1960s, going on to lecture in pottery at the teacher training college. He joined the local Labour Party and did a photographic survey of the town before major redevelopments changed the landscape.

As well as St Wilfred's, he also attended Holy Trinity Church in Bingley and was a member of the Bradford and Airedale synods.

Mr Carey was known as a campaigner, debater and writer on environmental, peace and non-violence issues.