After chip pan left on
Both South Wales Police and South Wales Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene and an investigation was launched.
During their investigation, police traced Mr Woolf and officers said they were satisfied there was no suggestion of foul play. Fire investigators concluded there was evidence of fire damage in the kitchen and smoke on the ground floor.
Giving evidence, Dean Loader, a fire investigator at South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said the fire was likely to have been caused by a chip pan being left on the heat. He said the rear right ring of the cooker was left on and this may have heated the oil to the point of ignition.
As a result, smoke travelled through the doorway and into the living room and hallway.
The court heard there were two smoke alarms in Ms Bloodworth’s property but they were in areas which were not penetrated by the smoke.
Mr Loader advised the court that heat detectors were the most appropriate alarms to have fitted in areas such as the kitchen.
In his post-mortem examination report, pathologist Dr Jason Shannon said he found heavy staining and inflammation to Ms Bloodworth’s airways. He said Ms Bloodworth suffered from asthma but he could not say if this played a part in her death.
The court heard how alcohol at a level of 172mg per 100ml of blood was found in Ms Bloodworth’s system and this may have impaired her ability to respond.
The medical cause of death was recorded as “inhalation of combustion products” and “alcohol intoxication”. Senior coroner Andrew Barkley recorded a conclusion of “death due to an accident contributed to by alcohol”.
Following Ms Bloodworth’s death Ms Dorricott issued an emotional tribute, saying: “You will always be in my heart and I am so proud of you.
“I will always love and miss you and I will treasure every memory.”
Abbie’s mother Samantha Dorricott