THE death of a 68-year-old man who died while on honeymoon was due to natural causes, a coroner has ruled.

Freddie Reeves, from Thame Road, Bicester, died suddenly while on a boat trip on holiday in Turkey with newly-wed wife Wendy on Monday, May 18 last year.

At an inquest into his death yesterday at Oxford Coroner’s Court, assistant coroner Alison Thompson concluded the death was down to natural causes related to Mr Reeves’ heart disease.

She said: “I am satisfied with the cause of death given by the pathologist and conclude that of natural causes.”

The couple had married at the Littlebury Hotel in Kings End, Bicester, in front of 100 family and friends on May 2.

They went to Turkey for their honeymoon a few days later but 10 days into their trip Mr Reeves died suddenly after collapsing during a boat trip.

Supported by family members at the inquest, Mrs Reeves tearfully described the moment her husband died.

Talking about being in the sea, she said: “He was taller than me so he reached the beach from the boat before me and I saw him sort of stumble [in shallow water].

“When I reached him he was bent over but his head was not in the water, I just thought he was looking in the water at the fishes.”

The inquest heard her husband did not respond to her and as she lifted his head he appeared to have passed away.