Brit mum chokes to death on steak moments after tucking into meal on Spain holiday

Ceri Ball, 74, was on holiday with her husband Glyn, 77, when she choked on a piece of steak during a meal in the coastal town of Peñíscola near Valencia, Spain

A mum tragically choked on steak while holidaying in Spain with her husband and subsequently died, an inquest heard.

Ceri Ball, 74, and her husband Glyn, 77, had booked a meal in the coastal town of Peñíscola near Valencia. Within seconds of starting her steak, Ceri began choking. Coroner Rose Farmer opened an inquest into Ceri’s death at Gwent Coroner’s Court.

A provisional post mortem revealed Mrs Ball had died from asphyxiation, obstruction and choking, the inquest heard. Lisa Lisseman, 54, Ceri’s daughter, said her parents had been in Spain for a few months. She said: “My mum and dad have a home from home out in Spain.”, reports Wales Online.

“They’d been there a few months and were due to come home next week. They’d gone out, had a lovely day and went out for a meal. Mum took a mouthful and it got stuck in her throat.

“Dad said she was unconscious in seconds, and everyone tried to help her. The waiter tried to help her, and someone phoned an ambulance.”

The grandmother, who is from Rogerstone, Newport, was rushed to Comarcal de Vinaròs hospital.

Despite doctors’ best efforts her body had been starved of oxygen and she died on October 17, the day after the incident.

“They got the food out twenty minutes later and restarted her heart. They tried to keep her on machines overnight for me and my sister Helen to get over to Spain, and we didn’t make it, said Lisa.

“Dad was there on his own, and they basically said to Dad her brain was too damaged. He said his goodbyes and left.”

In a heartfelt tribute, Lisa shared: “Our beautiful mum, wife, grandmother (Gigi) died in the most tragic of circumstances.

“She was our matriarch, she was the queen, she was opinionated, but she cared about everyone. We are heartbroken.

“If something happened to someone else, she would be the first to help them, arranging a charity day and cooking for them. She was so selfless.”

The family expressed their gratitude to The Repatriation Services Trust, a charity established by Tom Bassett’s parents following his death at the hands of a drink driver in Dubai in 2017.

They have since launched a fundraising page to support the organisation.

Lisa continued: “They’ve been so amazing. I contacted Steve, and he asked, ‘What can we do? What can we help with?’ and they’ve taken that financial strain from us.

“Without them all of dad’s savings would have been wiped.

“It is difficult to put into words how much their support meant to us all and we want to help them continue in their selfless quest.”

A complete post-mortem examination is yet to take place, with the inquest postponed until 10am on July 23, 2026.