A smoker who fell asleep with a cigarette in his h

A smoker who fell asleep with a cigarette in his hand
awoke to find himself engulfed in flames – and tragically
died later in hospital.

Telex operator David Owen, 51, had been looking forward to a
holiday with his sister, but died in hospital 10 days after the blaze
because of his terrible burns.

Southwark Coroner’s Court heard how during the early hours of
February 1 firemen wearing breathing apparatus went to divorced
Mr Owen’s eighth floor flat at Avondale Square, Bermondsey, after
he made an emergency call.

He was found in his smoke-filled hallway still conscious and
minutes later ambulanceman Ronald McCallum treated him with burns
sheets.

Mr McCallum told the inquest: ‘I spoke to him in the lift
going down.

I asked him what had happened.

‘He said he wasn’t sure.

He said he was in his arm chair and woke
up with flames around him.

He said he had been smoking a cigarette.

‘
Fire Investigator Norman Brice said the remains of a
cigarette were found which had ignited a cushion on his armchair
before the flames spread to a pile of newspapers and then to the end
of his bed.

‘By that time his clothes were alight,’ said Mr Brice.

Coroner Sir Montague Levine recorded a verdict of accidental
death.

ENDS