An elderly woman died after eating a "half-frozen" steak at a restaurant in Wales.
Ethel Oakden, from Leek, was on her way home from her holiday in Wales, when she and her husband stopped for a meal in Llangollen.
However, Mrs Oakden's steak was “half-frozen” in the middle, an inquest heard.
The 77-year-old developed diarrhoea after eating part of the meal, and when she went to visit her GP they also diagnosed her with sepsis, StokeonTrentLive reported.
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She was advised to attend hospital but refused.
Mrs Oakden began to feel better, but three weeks later she was found dead in her bed by her husband at home on Hamil Drive.
An jury inquest into her death held in Stoke-on-Trent found that gastroenteritis contributed to her death. However, the primary cause of death was found to be natural causes and misadventure.
But Mrs Oakden’s family disagree, claiming she had “never been right” since eating the meal.
Speaking to StokeonTrentLive, her daughter Deborah Birch-Machin, said: “Her mobility was poor - she could not walk far and relied on a wheelchair.
“She was diagnosed with COPD, and also had asthma and epilepsy after she fell and banged her head, which was controlled by medication.
“She didn’t eat any more steak after she found it was frozen.
“My father said it ‘didn’t taste quite right.’
“Neither of them finished their meals or report it to the staff."
She said that her mother had complained of "feeling off" the day after and developed diarrhoea. She said that this stopped on June 29 and that she was eating and drinking, and "in good spirits."
"At her last review she was prescribed Ensure drinks but she said she was feeling better," she continued.
"My parents had separate bedrooms and he went to take her a cup of tea, but found her unresponsive and called 999.
"There was nothing they could do."
However, Ms Birch-Machin then added to her initial statement on November 8.
She said: "I phoned her on July 18 and she was still feeling poorly.
"I saw her on July 19 - she said she felt a tiny bit better but it was clear to me she was still not right and had not been since she ate the steak.
"I don't agree with the cause of death as I believe it was the result of food poisoning."
Mrs Oakden’s GP at Park Medical Centre Leek, Dr Thomas Doherty, gave her cause of death as advanced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and severe frailty, with gastroenteritis as a contributing factor.
Delivering the verdict, the jury said: "She died as a result of COPD and severe frailty and had previously had gastroenteritis from eating uncooked food."
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