An 85-year-old man may have suffered an “acute cardiac event” which caused the road accident which killed him and his wife.

Today, the inquest into the deaths of Lindsay and Georgina Wise, 87, of Michaelhouse Way, Stanton, was held in Bury St Edmunds.

They died on January 29 this year when their Renault Megane, which was travelling westbound along the A143 at Great Barton, was involved in a head-on collision with an articulated large goods vehicle (LGV).

Coroner Dr Peter Dean read from the statement of Keith Jackson, the driver of the LGV, who had just delivered a load to Nottingham and was driving back to the depot in Norfolk when the accident happened.

In his statement he described how he saw the red car move across the central white line of the single carriageway and into his lane.

“It was not weaving or going from side to side,” the coroner read. “He was hoping it would return to its side of the road.”

Mr Jackson began steering harshly to the right and braking, but the car hit the front of his cab.

Paramedic Hannah Schumann said the couple’s injuries were “incompatible for life”.

Consultant pathologist Dr Karl Love said they died from their injuries caused by the collision, but also said in relation to Mr Wise, an artist, there may have been an “unexpected coronary event” which prevented him from having appropriate control of his car.

Dr Love said the autopsy on Mr Wise identified several “cardiac pathologies”.

“Dr Love says it’s plausible a severe cardiac pathology could have precipitated an acute cardiac arrhythmia which could have contributed to the road traffic collision,” Dr Dean said.

Pc Jeffrey Cribb said the reason for the Renault to cross onto the wrong side of the road “cannot be categorically stated,” but considering all the evidence a sudden, unexpected cardiac event was the most plausible explanation.

In a report from the family they said: “The tragedy has concluded the lives of two lovely people who made a real and lasting contribution to the world and they will be greatly missed and greatly remembered.”

The inquest heard neither the Renault or the LGV were found to have any pre-existing defects which could have caused the crash, and alcohol or drugs were not a factor.

Dr Dean concluded the couple’s deaths were accidental.