A West Kirby couple died of smoke inhalation after a discarded cigarette or lighter sparked a small fire in the lounge of their home, an inquest was told today.
Retired harbourmaster John Farrell, 74, and his wife Anne, a 68 years-old retired Hoylake Cottage Hospital nurse, were overcome by smoke at their semi-detached house in Boulton Avenue, West Kirby, in the early hours of Monday, March 21.
Bidston-born Mr Farrell was a former volunteer fireman at Hoylake fire station, while Anne had been working until her death as a volunteer at the Age UK shop in West Kirby.
The Liverpool inquest was told that neighbours called 999 at 1.24am after hearing a smoke alarm in the house. Fire service investigator Joanne Stephens said it was reasonable to assume that the fire had been burning for 30 to 60 minutes.
The fire in the rear lounge of the house damaged a bookcase and sofa, but only caused light smoke damage to the rest of the building.
“It is my opinion that carelessly discarded smokers’ materials were the cause of the fire,” she added.
A fire engine from Upton fire station reached the scene in just over eight minutes, and members of the crew broke into the house through a patio door. Firefighters using breathing apparatus brought the fire under control, and found and rescued the unconscious couple.
Mr Farrell was found collapsed in the kitchen, while his wife was found at the foot of the stairs. The firefighters attempted to resuscitate the couple, but Mr Farrell died at the scene and his wife died later that morning at Arrowe Park Hospital.
Pathologist Dr David Agbamu said that Mr and Mrs Farrell were both suffering from chronic heart and lung disease which would have exacerbated the effects of the smoke inhalation. Mr Farrell had less than half the legal driving limit of alcohol in his body, and Mrs Farrell had not been drinking at all.
“Smoke inhalation happens very quickly,” added Dr Agbamu.
The inquest was told that a statement made in the press by Mark Rowe, secretary of the Merseyside branch of the Fire Brigades Union, had distressed Mr and Mrs Farrell’s son Christopher and daughter Joanne.
Mr Rowe had referred to the second fire engine which went to the house having been sent from Kensington in Liverpool, and described it as an example of budget cuts which were putting people’s lives at risk.
Ms Farrell asked questions about the rescue operation, while her brother who lives in Wales had sent a series of written questions which were addressed by Nicholas Searle, area manager of preparedness for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS).
Mr Searle said that the first fire engine had reached the house well within the fire service’s 10 minute response target for 999 calls, and its five-strong crew broke into the house, controlled the fire and rescued the couple without delay when they arrived.
Mr Farrell asked: “My father was an ex-fire fighter and had burns to prove his bravery. Was everything possible done to save my parents?”
Mr Searle replied: “The firefighters in attendance that night did everything that was possible to save your parents.”
He said the remarks made by the Fire Brigades Union were made completely independently of the MFRS, but added: “We have had cuts within the fire service. We have reduced the number of staff and appliances we have but that has not reduced the response times we can achieve.”
He said the nine Wirral fire appliances had been reduced to five, and that West Kirby fire station, which was unmanned on the night of the fire, was closing. Upton and Bromborough are now the two key Wirral fire stations which are manned 24 hours a day to provide an emergency response within ten minutes to the whole borough.
“We have a planning application to build a fire station more centrally, which would improve attendance times to West Kirby by a couple of minutes.
“If that is not granted we will close West Kirby and respond totally from Upton.”
Area Coroner Ms Anita Bhardwaj asked for the families’ concerns about the FBU comments and the distress they had caused the family to be fed back to them.
Recording a verdict that the couple died as a result of a tragic accident, Ms Bhardwaj told the couple’s daughter: “To lose one parent is bad enough. To lose both parents so quickly and in such circumstances is tragic.
“The article in the newspaper hasn’t helped the situation, and I hope the information today has allayed some of the issues you have had.”
Ms Farrell paid tribute to the efforts of the firefighters, and said: “Thank you all for what you tried to do for my mum and dad.”