Fire death linked to sedative effects
A Christchurch pensioner may have been able to escape a fire in his home if he had not taken a high dose of a sedating medication, a coroner says.
Leonard Robert Wesney, 70, died from smoke inhalation during a fire at his Linwood home on August 14, 2017.
In findings released on Friday, coroner David Robinson said an autopsy and toxicology analysis confirmed Wesney died from carbon monoxide poisoning, meaning he was alive when the fire broke out.
The toxicology report also found a high level of venlafaxine – an antidepressant – in his blood.
Pathologist Dr Paul Newman said the amount would not have been fatal, but it could have had a sedating effect.
The last person to contact Wesney, who lived alone in the Cashel St house and had been an accomplished photographer, was a friend of 25 years, Kevin O’Sullivan.
O’Sullivan called Wesney on August 12 asking if he wanted to see a movie, but Wesney said he was not feeling well and was quite depressed.
O’Sullivan was aware Wesney had not been eating well and had become very thin.
The Canterbury District Health Board confirmed Wesney had a long history of mental illness and last saw Psychiatric Services just over six weeks before his death.
He often stopped using his medication because he was concerned about the side effects, but his mood at the last visit was considered normal.
The fire happened two days after O’Sullivan last spoke to Wesney.
Keegan Hewlett spotted smoke coming from a house on Cashel St about 3.45am, and stopped to bang on the front windows and door while another person called emergency services.
Hewlett said the rooms inside the house were full of smoke and he heard a noise inside the house, which he thought was a person groaning.
He kicked the front door until it came off its hinges and saw flames coming down the hallway.
Most of the house was filled with thick black smoke and the hallway ceiling had fallen, preventing him from entering the house.
Hewlett warned neighbours of the fire before firefighters arrived.
The coroner commended Hewlett for his actions.
Fire risk management officer Bruce Irvine said there were three smoke alarms in the house, but it was not clear if they were all working.
He determined the fire started in the kitchen, probably in the fridge after the door was left open, causing the internal light to overheat and burn through plastic items inside.
An investigation by Energy Safety WorkSafe NZ found the microwave was the more likely origin of the fire, because it was switched on to cooking mode without food inside.
The coroner was unable to determine which appliance was the more likely cause of the fire.
‘‘Mr Wesney may have had better prospects of being alerted to the fire, and making an escape if he had not taken an excess quantity of venlafaxine,’’ he said.
‘‘There is no evidence or suggestion before me as to why Mr Wesney took the excess quantity of venlafaxine, but for the avoidance of doubt I exclude the potential for it to have been taken with suicidal intent.’’
He deemed Wesney’s death was accidental and made no recommendations in his findings.