Man died after bid to put out fire at house
A HOMEOWNER was trying to extinguish a blaze at his house in Leeds when he died after being overcome by smoke and heat, an inquest heard.
Lindsay Farquharson, 42, was trying to save his home in Harehills Lane after a fire broke out in the early hours of April 27 last year.
The blaze started in an upstairs bedroom after Mr Farquharson’s partner Gemma Wells placed clothes on a high-intensity lamp being used to heat and light the bedroom.
Miss Wells told police she wanted to dim the light from the lamp, which the inquest heard was of the type often used in the cultivation of cannabis.
The inquest heard Mr Farquharson attempted to put the fire out using a saucepan and water from the bath.
Firefighters were quickly on the scene and discovered Mr Farquharson lying on the bathroom floor.
He was declared dead just after 3.30am that day.
Toxicology tests revealed Mr Farquharson had taken heroin, methadone, cocaine and phenazepam before his death.
A post mortem found Mr Farquharson died from smoke inhalation and said the drugs in his system were a contributory factor in his death.
Recording a verdict of accidental death, area coroner Jonathan Leach said: “He attempted to put out the fire himself, failing to appreciate how quickly one can be overcome by smoke.”