Patient Mervyn Davies: Treated for burns

He was in intensive care for four days following the incident, which was investigated by Health and Safety officials and the fire service, and remained at the hospital for seven weeks.

Mr Davies was due to return to the hospital for a scan later this month but it has been confirmed that he died last Saturday, 29 December, at Dolgellau Community Hospital.

North Wales Corononer Dewi Pritchard Jones said a post mortem showed Mr Davies had died of natural causes.

An inquest is expected to be held.

Bosses at Wrexham Maelor Hospital held an internal inquiry as a result of the incident and removed the instruments used in the operation from general use.

Mr Davies's family claimed the surgeon conducting the operation burned his fingers in the incident.

It is also claimed that another surgeon was called upon to try and finish the operation, but because of the burns Mr Davies had received, it was not possible to do so.

A spokesman for the hospital, Andy Scotsman, said the findings of the internal inquiry were complete and available for presentation to the Davies family.

We have informed the relevant authorities of the contents of the report

Wrexham Maelor Hospital statement

He said: "We cannot make the findings public without the family's permission."

"We have informed the relevant authorities of the contents of the report and we will be happy to share the contents with members of Mr Davies' family when appropriate to do so," he added.

NHS Trust officials apologised to his family at the time and his relatives praised the hospital for acting quickly to investigate.

After surgery, the retired forestry worker was admitted to the high dependency unit, although he was later transferred to the ear, nose and throat ward.

Following the emergency, Mr Davies, of Maes Talarran, was said to be depressed and afraid to finish the voice box procedure.

He is survived by his wife, Pauline, two daughters, one son, two grandchildren, a brother and two sisters.

A member of the family said: "Pauline is devastated and very upset and prefers not to say anything as there is going to be an inquest in due course."

Mr Davies's funeral will take place at 11am on Monday at St Marys Church in Dolgellau.