Dropped cigarette caused fatal fire, rules coroner

A FORMER Royal Navy officer died after dropping a cigarette at his home which set fire to his clothes and left him with severe burns, an inquest has been told.

Neighbours battled to save 86-year-old Eric Shepherd, after they realised that a fire had taken hold in the living room of his home in Hudswell Street, Wakefield, on January 18.

Assistant coroner Philip Holden concluded yesterday that Mr Shepherd died from smoke inhalation, shock and burns.

Following the inquest, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s deputy chief fire officer, Dave Walton, said: “This was a truly tragic case and our deepest condolences are with Mr Shepherd’s family.

“He was a proud man who had served a career in the Royal Navy before working in security and the court heard that he was devoted to the care of his wife until she had to move into a care home.

“Mr Shepherd had worked on submarines and travelled the world with the Royal Navy, and this is a terribly sad end to what must have been a colourful life.

“It’s a fact that smoking, mobility issues and living alone are reoccurring elements we see in fire deaths, especially among older generations.

An inquest held yesterday at Wakefield Coroner’s Court heard evidence from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s fire investigation officer, Ian Firth.

Mr Firth told the court how three engines from Wakefield, Ossett and Normanton stations had attended the mid-terrace house after receiving a call to the control room at 10.34pm.

The fire service was alerted by Carelink after Mr Shepherd, who lived alone, had pressed the emergency pendant around his neck in a bid to call for assistance during the fire.

Two neighbours tried to help him after becoming aware of the fire.

But Mr Shepherd was pronounced dead after firefighters arrived, by a paramedic at the scene at 10.47pm.