A father-of-three who suffered a fatal brain haemorrhage was “probably diagnosed wrongly” by doctors who assessed him just days earlier, a coroner said.

Lorry driver Glenn Long, aged 38, was sent home from Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, with antibiotics for a suspected infection.

He was told he did not need a brain scan despite initial concerns he may have meningitis. Mr Long, of Russells Hall Road, Dudley, died 11 days later on December 9.

Black Country coroner Robin Balmain recorded a verdict of death by natural causes at Dudley Coroner’s Court yesterday.

But he said: “What we don’t know is if Mr Long was suffering with the haemorrhage when he was at the hospital but I have to say I think the medical history suggests he was. In this case it seems the diagnosis was probably wrongly made.”

However Mr Balmain insisted blame should not be attached to the hospital. He said: “Diagnosis is not an exact science. It is not possible to say what caused the haemorrhage or when it appeared. It was a reasonable diagnosis.”

Today, wife Jackie, who had been married to Mr Long for 19 years, said: “I just wish I could turn back time and insist we did not leave that hospital until they had given him a scan. The whole family is heartbroken.”

Paula Clark, chief executive of The Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “We would like to express our condolences to the family for the death of Mr Long and welcome the verdict from the coroner of natural causes.”