Cause of fatal flat fire in Sutton-in-Ashfield ruled as "accidental"
An inquest into the death of 72-year-old John Burke concluded this week
An inquest has ruled that the death of a man in a flat fire in Sutton-in-Ashfield was accidental.
72-year-old John Burke died following a blaze in his home in Aspley Court in February 2022.
It was heard that Mr Burke, who was mostly bed bound due to his health, accidently dropped a lighter while lighting a cigarette in his bed around 7pm on 19th February 2024.
Emergency services were called at 7.11 pm that night, Mr Burke was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
The Assistant Coroner for Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire, Ms Gingell, concluded that the most probable cause of the fire was accidental.
Ms Gingell said: “I would like to start by offering my personal and sincere condolences to Mr Burke’s family – I am extremely sorry for their loss.
“Mr Burke was a 72-year-old gentleman at the time he died and was bed bound due to ill health.
“At shortly after 7pm on the 19th February 2024, whilst using a lighter to light a hand rolled cigarette in bed, Mr Burke dropped the lighter and this ignited his bedding.
“Mr Burke sadly died from an acute cardiac event which was contributed to by inhalation of carbon monoxide from an accidental fire, and other underlying long-term health conditions.”
Fire Investigator and Station Manager Tom Clark, said: “We always recommend that smoking outside is safer, however recognise this is not always possible to achieve. It is vitally important to recognise that smoking indoors and in particular whilst in bed always carries an enhanced risk of injury.
“I would like to ask that people use this tragic accident and turn it into something positive by taking the opportunity to ensure they all have working smoke alarms, and they are tested regularly."