A WIDOW died after a hip replacement operation in a "two-in-a-thousand tragedy", an inquest was told yesterday.

Former shop assistant Jean Woodmansey, 74, died from a deep vein thrombosis despite measures taken by her surgeon and staff at Middlesbrough General Hospital.

Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Anthony Hui told the Middlesbrough hearing: "I think we did just about everything we possibly could."

Mrs Woodmansey of Westminster Close, Eston, near Middlesbrough, had her left hip replaced on September 15 but died suddenly in hospital on October 3.

Mr Hui said she received aspirin and a blood thinning injection to lower the risk of developing blood clots in the leg. A week after the operation, she complained of dizziness and shortage of breath, and her legs were swollen.

She was also given a scan but due to her swollen legs it did not detect the clot.

Teesside Deputy Coroner Gordon Hetherington recorded a verdict of misadventure.