Inquest opens on house blaze victim

A man who died following a suspicious house fire in Telford succumbed to burns and the effects of breathing in smoke, an inquest heard.

Adrian Jeremy Hemming died at Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham, the morning after the blaze in Sunderland Drive, Leegomery, yesterday's hearing in Wellington was told.

Investigations are continuing into the fire, which broke out on June 9. Police have said they are treating it as suspicious but are not looking for anyone else in connection with it.

Home Office pathologist Dr Alexander Kolar carried out a post mortem on Mr Hemming's body at Sandwell District General Hospital.

The inquest heard Dr Kolar concluded 37-year-old Mr Hemming died from "systemic complications of a fire burn injury and the inhalation of products of combustion".

Mr Hemming, his partner Andrea Partington, and her children, Regan, aged six, and Jack, aged nine, were all rescued from the blaze which tore through the family's detached house at around 9.45pm.

Mrs Partington, 34, was also taken to Selly Oak Hospital suffering from severe burns. The inquest heard she remains in a critical condition in hospital.

Jack and Regan, both pupils at Apley Wood Primary School, were treated for smoke inhalation and have both been discharged from hospital.

Mid and North Shropshire Coroner Mr John Ellery adjourned the inquest to a date to be fixed.