A former weekly journalist died from blood poisoning days after being bitten by hs pet dog, an inquest heard.

Mark Jones, left, of Prestatyn died at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd on December 8.  He was 61.

During his career, Mark had worked for a number of Welsh titles including the Rhyl Journal, North Wales Pioneer and North Wales Chronicle.

An inquest in Ruthin last week heard that he developed sepsis following the bite and died four days later.

Mark’s widow Yvette told the inquest that her husband had been putting the dog, a Jack Russell, to bed when he gave her a biscuit treat.

She said: “As he did, she bit his thumb. I didn’t see it happen, and there was only a small puncture wound – it wasn’t bleeding or swollen.”

However, by the third day the thumb had swollen and after failing to get an appointment to see his GP, Mark went to accident and emergency.

Said Yvette: “We went straight to A&E. He walked in, but his condition deteriorated rapidly and he passed away peacefully with me and his stepson by his side.”

Recording a verdict of accidental death, senior coroner for North Wales East and Central John Gittins said Mark’s prognosis was “very poor” on arriving at hospital and it was “probable” he had developed sepsis by the time he was admitted.

“The process was so far advanced that despite the best efforts and treatment he died of cardiac failure,” he told the hearing.

After retiring from journalism, Mark opened and ran The Beautiful Game – a football memorabilia shop on Prestatyn High Street.

He was also vice-chairman and matchday announcer for Prestatyn Town FC.

In a tribute, Yvette described Mark as “a gentle, genuine, caring person and well-respected and loved by everyone who we came across.”

She added: “We went out for a couple of years, and then his work took him to London, so we split up. It was purely by chance that we got back together again, and we were together for 20 years and married for 18. It was a true love story, really.”