Shropshire pensioner died weeks after gas fire fall, inquest told

The inquest into Elizabeth Gorman, 86, of Church Street, Church Stretton, heard she suffered 25 per cent burns.

Mrs Gorman had a history of seizures, and because of this her daughter Meg Gorman telephoned her every day from her home in Cardiff, the inquest was told.

But on the evening of January 3, Miss Gorman rang and thought her mother sounded "odd".

The next day, an inquest at Shrewsbury's Shirehall heard, after calling her mother again, Miss Gorman decided to visit her and found her in the dining room of her home having suffered burns following a fall on to the gas fire.

Her skirt, petticoat and underclothes were burned as was her slipper and a hearth rug.

The left arm and seat of a nearby chair also had burn marks.

Mrs Gorman was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where she was treated for the burns to her body.

But her condition did not improve and she died of her injuries on January 19.

Station manager Guy Williams from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, along with officers from West Mercia Police and a forensic team, conducted a thorough search of Mrs Gorman's home on February 1 and found no evidence of suspicious circumstances.

In his report, which was read out at the inquest yesterday, Mr Williams said: " A quantity of clothing had been damaged in the fire.

"It was thought that Mrs Gorman had fallen backwards against the fire guard as her petticoat, underwear and nylon tights were burned as well as her skirt.

"The fire guard also had a dent in it. It is thought that after falling Mrs Gorman remained in the fire for some minutes. "

Mr John Ellery, Coroner for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, recorded a conclusion of accidental death.