MALDON: Freak pants fire kills pensioner
INCONTINENCE pants manufacturers are being urged to make their products fire resistant after a disabled man burned to death when his caught alight.
Housebound George 'Bill' Martin, 71, died at his Southminster bungalow on February 28 when a cigarette set pads contained in his incontinence pants on fire, turning its cotton wadding into molten globules, an inquest heard.
-
Essex coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray said she planned to write to the pad makers drawing Mr Martin's tragic death to their attention.
She recorded a verdict of accidental death after police dismissed suspicious circumstances.
Mrs Beasley-Murray said she would also be writing to AB Carers after hearing they had not responded to an offer of free fire checks at the homes of clients they visited.
"It is unfortunate they have not availed themselves of the offer by Essex Fire and Rescue Service."
Assistant divisional fire officer Danny Bruin said the pads were so "highly inflammable" that even if Mr Martin had been able to obtain water, dousing the fire would have been next to impossible.
He said he had contacted the pad makers - but would not identify them - urging them to consider making the wadding fire resistant.
ADO Bruin said forensic tests revealed that once alight the pads turned into molten globules.
He said investigations revealed Mr Martin had placed a lit cigarette on top of a packet of Hula Hoops resting on his lap.
It melted the packet, then the outer covering of his incontinence pants before setting its inner cotton wadding ablaze.
Mr Martin died when his wheelchair became trapped between internal doors at his Kings Road home as he tried to wheel himself to the kitchen to get water.
Coroner's officer Len Jarman said Mr Martin had learning disabilities and latterly suffered from bowel cancer requiring carers three times a day.
The court heard Mr Martin would often have two cigarettes alight at the same time.
Mr Jarman said a post mortem examination carried out at Broomfield Hospital revealed Mr Martin had died of severe burns to his body.
Three AB care workers told the hearing Mr Martin liked to smoke and kept a glass ashtray with him at all times.
But after the blaze it was found by fire investigators broken and discarded in a bin.
After the hearing ADO Bruin told the Essex Chronicle they had been disappointed that AB Carers had not replied to their offer, but would be writing to them again.
"We are still willing to visit the homes of any of their clients and carry out a fire safety check, which would include fitting free smoke alarms, should we be asked to."
123 Comments
View all
by Alan, Shenfield
Tuesday, December 09 2008, 12:09PM
“Well Matt, you've managed to get this poor man more attention in death with your dodgy headline than he probably ever got in life.
The comments posted here confirm that Brits lead the world in inventive comedy..”
by Ticked off, Chelmsford
Tuesday, December 02 2008, 9:12AM
“Trevor, I don't think you fully understand either the role of newspapers or how much hard work must go into producing one.
The Chronicle always brings us as much of the news from around the county, whatever it may be, in what must be very testing times for print media.
The staff must put in many, many man hours, under increasing pressure from idiots like you to present it in a certain way, when they already have to abide to various industry rules and regulations.
Do you ever stop to think about the good things the Chronicle does? All the campaigns, competitions, supplements, good news stories, charity drives, etc, etc...?
Do you ever stop to think that you're completely demeaning, disrepecting and insulting the people who are working hard to make sure you know what's happening in your county?
I don't like what people have been posting about this story, but your personal attacks are shameful and I for one think you should start to consider the bigger picture before blustering in with embarrassing comments.”
by Matt Adams, Acting Editor in Chief
Monday, December 01 2008, 11:03AM
“Thanks for your kind words Trevor, although I'm not sure if that's your real name as I note that the email address you supplied was bogus. I'm not sure how the comments posted on this story have anything to do with my reporters, or how you justify your comments about the standard of journalism sinking at the Chronicle, but as I said, it's your opinion and you're entitled to it. These are the comments of website users.
However, if you trawl through the 120 posts on this story, you'll find the majority have gone off on a completely different tangent, and don't even refer to the initial incident.
You may not agree with my arguments about free speech, you may support censorship in all its forms - that's entirely up to you.”
by trvorwhatever, Essex
Monday, December 01 2008, 10:55AM
“am glad to see that Matt Adams is all for free speech, and will defend my right to say what I want to the death, so here I go.
You have lost control of your paper, the standard of journalism at the Chronicle has sunk an unbelievable degree since you took the helm. This thread is The Chronicle scrabbling around in the dirt underneath where the barrel used to be. A more temporary editor I have never seen. The fact that you defend these offensive posts about an horrific accident in which a man lost his life in the most terrible way shows that you lack the maturity for the job which has been foisted on you.
Get a grip and take charge of your paper, reporters and website and show that you actually have the sense and authority to edit a newspaper.”
by In Defence Of Matt, Essex
Monday, December 01 2008, 10:45AM
“To Trevor Whatever:
"You have lost control of your paper"
This misses the point. Matt is not seeking to control. He is allowing people to exercise free speech.
"The fact that you defend these offensive posts..."
Matt is defending nothing other than free speech
"you lack the maturity for the job which has been foisted on you"
Or perhaps you lack an understanding of what free speech really entails.
Good on you Matt.”
by Dave, Dagenham
Sunday, November 30 2008, 10:26AM
“Perhaps Lidl can lead the way by stocking flameproof incontinence pants. Or at least print a simple warning in in very very plain english so that the simple folk around here can avert lambert and butler / hula hoop related incendiary incidents in the future.”
by FuzzyFace, Beautiful Elk Grove, California
Sunday, November 30 2008, 1:58AM
“OMG! I love Brits! Your sense of humor is tremendous! I laughed so hard at the posts I pulled a rib muscle. BTW, Rancho Cuca, Del Taco sucks! In and Out Burger, or nothing!”
by J Hanninfield, Billericay
Saturday, November 29 2008, 8:54PM
“OK... everybody has had their fun on here. But spare a thought for the family of this poor man. Not a nice thing to happen and think how you lot would like it if you couldn't escape and were in the medical situation he was. Hopefully none of you will ever have to suffer the way he did.”
by Bono, London
Saturday, November 29 2008, 10:28AM
“Essex Fire Press Office - I don't think anyone doubts that this must have come as a shock to the firemen called out to the scene - there can't have much in their training to prepare them to actually do some work”
by draks, nebraska
Saturday, November 29 2008, 4:40AM
“poor guy. this story will probably overshadow his true legacy for a while, but let's not forget his genius contribution to the beatles.
what a sad day. he will be missed.”