Inquest hears how elderly man burned to death in kitchen

Bill Stenning, a retired carpenter from Amesbury, was found slumped in his kitchen on April 5, Easter Sunday, following a fire at his home at Coltsfoot Close.

On Tuesday, Salisbury Coroners Court heard how Mr Stenning, a keen pipe smoker, was visited by care workers four times a day. Despite his age and being on some medication, he was in otherwise good health.

His carer Roanne Nel described how she left the house at around 5pm after making him his dinner reporting that Mr Stenning was smoking his pipe.

Neighbours noticed smoke billowing out of the house at around about 6.45pm and quick-thinking bricklayer Danny Law broke in — but Mr Stenning had already died by the time he reached him.

Fire officer David Geddes, who later inspected the house, reported burn marks on the armchair concluding Mr Stenning had fallen asleep with his pipe before waking to find his clothes on fire.

He then went to the kitchen to try to put out the flames.

Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service had visited his house in the days prior to the fire to conduct a safety check and had advised him about risks of smoking a pipe, but the smoke alarm was found to be in good condition.

The post-mortem examination also found that Mr Stenning had a cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) which might have also contributed to his death.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, senior coroner David Ridley said his pre-existing heart condition might have played a part in his death along with the fire.

He said: “In this case we have a combination of something that is natural and non-natural, but I am satisfied that William would not have died if it were not for

this fire.

“It is likely that triggered the cardiac arrhythmia.

“He died as the unintended consequence of a deliberate act, which in this case was smoking the pipe.”

At the time of his death neighbours said Mr Stenning was known to be a big fan of Southampton Football Club, test-match cricket and horse racing.