AN inquest heard how a pensioner devoted to his two dogs died after jumping into an icy pond to save one of them.

Ron Meredith, 76, was walking his springer spaniel and German pointer at Pen-y-Fan Pond, near Oakdale, on June 2 of this year when tragedy struck.

Another walker, Michael Padfield, saw Mr Meredith, of Fflorens Road, Newbridge, strip off his clothes, and jump in a vain bid to try to rescue his spaniel.

After the emergency services were alerted, Mr Meredith was pulled from the pond by rescuers from the South Wales Fire Service and an unsuccessful attempt was made to resuscitate him by an ambulance crew.

Mr Meredith's nephew, Darrell Meredith, told the Newport inquest his uncle was a keen sportsman and a regular visitor to the popular beauty spot.

"He was an active sportsman all his life and family members said he was a very strong swimmer.

"He was always exercising his dogs after his retirement - that was his life really." Consultant pathologist Dr Ian Thompson carried out the post mortem examination on Mr Meredith and concluded that he died of a shock which occurs when a nerve at the back of the neck shuts down and decreases the flow of blood leading to unconsciousness.

Dr Thompson said emersion and heart disease were also responsible. The deputy coroner for Gwent, Ms Wendy James, said: "It is very apparent from the evidence that Mr Meredith was devoted to his two dogs and it would have caused him great distress to see one of his beloved pets in difficulty while swimming out on the pond. "Unfortunately during that time he suffered from difficulties."

Ms James, who said the vaso vagel shock could have been triggered by the stress of seeing his pet in difficulty or the shock of entering the water, said she was satisfied Mr Meredith died of natural causes. Mr Meredith's death was the second tragedy to hit his family. His younger son, 49-year-old Bryan, killed himself in 2002 after becoming depressed following the death of his mother six years earlier.