Smoker choked to death in cigarette blaze

Francis Karl Sheridan, 53, was discovered by his step daughter at his home in Crowhurst Court, Colchester, after she had grown concerned for his welfare.

Chelmsford Coroner’s Court heard Mr Sheridan had not been seen for almost a week and had been absent from a funeral he was due to attend.

When his relative and a friend stopped by his house to check on him, they saw “what they believed to be a person” lying behind the door.

Insp Steven Scott-Haynes, of Essex Police, was called to the scene after the alarm was raised.

He said: “My understanding is she initially couldn’t get a reply at the front or rear door, when it became dark they had gone to get a torch at which point they saw what they believed to be a person behind the door.

“They forced entry. When I entered the building and walked into the living room I could see the sofa had severe damage.

“There was a huge amount of smoke damage although the fire didn’t appear to have taken over the room.

“On entering the rear of the building there was a smell of smoke, but not too strong.

“As I moved through the building it got stronger and stronger.

“There was a lot of soot to the point you couldn’t see the colour of the carpet.”

Martyn Hair, station manager at Colchester Fire Station, told the inquest the fire was started by an unextinguished cigarette.

He said: “The evidence showed it was a slow burning fire which created a lot of smoke due to the textiles there and the clothing materials.

“We found no smoke alarms in the premises.”

Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray recorded the cause of death as asphyxiation due to inhalation of smoke.

She said: “The police came to the view having attended the scene and having regard to all the evidence there were no suspicious circumstances.

“On the balance of probabilities this was an accident so that is what I am going to record as the conclusion. May I repeat my sympathies to Mr Sheridan’s family.”