A newly-married man who was looking forward to the birth of his son tragically died suddenly in the night from a heart condition he had known nothing about, an inquest heard.

Richard Walker, 28, who had no previous medical problems, died from symptoms caused by Dilated Cardiomyopathy at his marital home in Pepper Hill Lea, Damems, Keighley.

His widow, Amy, whom he married at Haworth Church nearly a year ago, gave birth to their son last Friday and called him Richard in memory of her late husband.

At yesterday’s inquest in Bradford, Coroner Roger Whittaker said Mr Walker, appeared “fit and healthy” before his death and would not have known he was suffering from a condition that can enlarge the heart and cause sudden death.

In a statement Mrs Walker said her husband (pictured right) “seemed normal” when he went to bed at 11pm on February 12.

But, at 4am on February 13, she was awoken by him making a strange gurgling noise. She then discovered he was not breathing, rang the emergency services and attempted resuscitation.

Although he was pronounced dead at Airedale General Hospital at 5.30am, Mr Whittaker concluded that he had died earlier at his home.

The coroner recorded a verdict of natural causes.