A FATHER-of-three choked to death as he tried to eat a McDonald's cheeseburger in one mouthful, an inquest heard today.

Prankster Darren Bray, 29, blacked out as stuffed the 99p burger into his mouth on a night out with friends.

The hearing was told Darren told friends "watch this" as he squashed the burger in half and put it in his mouth.

But Darren went "blue" in front of two friends and started choking on the cheeseburger.

Friend Sam Bisgrove said: "He picked up the burger and rolled it half and then said 'watch this' before putting the whole burger into his mouth.

"I could see him trying to cough it up and he was making horrible coughing noises.

"I tried to hit his back to help him clear his airway."

An inquest was told Mr Bray, of Barry, South Wales, ate the takeaway burger at a friend's house after drinking cans of beer.

Mr Bisgrove's girlfriend Amy Bennett said: "Sam said he was going to McDonald's on his way back and Darren asked him to order him a cheeseburger."

"Darren took his burger and rolled into a ball then pushed it into his mouth."

Paramedics arrived at the house in Barry, South Wales, and performed CPR on Mr Bray.

But they were unable to restart his heart and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Dr Rhiannon Trefor told Cardiff Coroner's Court Mr Bray died from a blockage to his airway.

She said: "When we did an internal examination there was a eight by five centremetre ball of food stuck at the back of his neck.

"Darren would not have been able to breath with that in his airway.

"Death would have followed quite quickly from a choking of this nature."

The hearing Mr Bray had been drinking and was one-and-a-half times over the legal drink-drive limit. But the doctor said it was not enough to "affect his judgement".

Assistant Coroner Christopher Woolley recorded a conclusion of misadventure at the Cardiff inquest.

He said: "I have heard that Darren had many friends and was well liked by many.

"I am very sorry that we had to meet in these circumstances and I give you my condolences for the loss of Darren."

Darren was a childhood friend of IBF Featherweight champion boxer Lee Selby, 28, also of Barry, South Wales.

Selby dedicated his world championship win over Mexican Fernando Montile to Darren.