A 49-year-old businessman died after his health deteriorated following a stroke, an inquest heard.

Paul Molyneux, of Thorsby Close, Bromley Cross, died on October 20, 2022, at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

He had just set up his own business before he died and was married to his wife Wendy.

On July 26, 2022, Paul was admitted to Salford Royal Hospital after suffering from a stroke before being transferred to the Royal Bolton for ongoing rehabilitation and he was discharged on August 3, 2022.

In a statement, Mrs Molyneux said: “He had chest infections but before his stroke he wasn’t complaining of any chest pain or any rashes.”

On October 12, Mrs Molyneux said that Paul had said he was not feeling very well and that he was getting “worse and worse”, where he was retching and unable to eat and drink.

Mrs Molyneux said: “He seemed to be getting worse on October 17, so I rang the GP, and they had a conversation with Paul.

“I was concerned about Paul because I knew he wasn’t well.

“I was particularly concerned he had been retching because I thought it might bring his stroke medication back up.”

Paul then had an appointment with nurse Agnes Mkandawire on October 18 after Mrs Molyneux says he continued to be unwell, and that “everything was too much of an effort”.

Blood tests were also sent to the lab, but Paul went to hospital on October 19 after his condition continued to worsen.

Pathologist Dr Patrick Waugh gave the medical cause of death as infected endocarditis (a rare and potentially fatal infection of the inner lining of the heart) but said it would be difficult to say how long he had this for and whether or not it caused the stroke.

He said that the “main findings were that he had an enlarged heart and acute endocarditis”, as well as going into septic shock, despite no signs prior.

Dr Waugh said: “This man was in septic shock due to endocarditis and multiple organ failure.

“I think it’s a very tricky case.

“It would be difficult to say how long he had infected endocarditis and whether it caused the stroke.

“He had heart problems so it could be as a result of that.

“There were no critical symptoms I would expect any GP to pick up.”

Assistant coroner Stephen Teasdale reached a short form conclusion of natural causes.

He said: “I am satisfied that Paul Ian Molyneux died on October 20, 2022.

“I am satisfied that Paul died at the Royal Bolton Hospital, and I am satisfied that the cause of his death is infected endocarditis.

“I offer my condolences to the family.”