THE WIDOW of a North-East veteran has welcomed a coroner's finding that her husband's service in the first Gulf War played a part in his death.

Sandra Kozak spoke out after coroner David Mitford last night recorded a verdict of natural causes, to which Mr Kozak's military service in the Gulf, was a contributing factor.

Mr Kozak, of North Tyneside, was a leading campaigner for the recognition of Gulf War Syndrome.

His widow hoped the inquest would rule that Gulf War Syndrome was a contributory factor to his death.

Although the coroner ruled that his hypertension was brought on by his service in the Gulf, he made no reference to Gulf War Syndrome.

Speaking after the inquest at Newcastle Civic Centre, Mrs Kozak said: "I feel the coroner's conclusion is very fair.

"After his 22 years in the Royal Navy and further three years in the Royal Freight Artillery, it means a great deal to me that the coroner has acknowledged Michael's service in this way."

Mr Kozak died on October 9.

The inquest heard how in August 2000 he was the victim of a serious assault which left him with a severely ruptured aorta.

Peter Wade, Medical Law & Patients' Rights solicitor at Irwin Mitchell, said: "This was not a civil court claim, it was simply the widow of a war hero looking for some closure for her husband's death."

An Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "Our thoughts are with Michael Kozak's family at this difficult time "The MoD along with the vast majority of medical opinion does not accept the Gulf War Syndrome exists as a pathological entity."