Open verdict in Hoylake fire tragedy

Jul 16 2008 by Carrie Catterall, Birkenhead News

Christopher Warrington

A HOYLAKE man died after being engulfed in flames while cleaning a gas cooker with petrol in his garden.

The death of Christopher Warrington, 30, was recorded as an open verdict at an inquest at Wallasey Town Hall.

Coroner Christopher Johnson said the circumstances surrounding the death were too “confusing and unclear” to identify a cause.

Mr Warrington was a single, unemployed man who had previously been treated for depression and schizophrenia.

He lived with his mother Karen in her Hoylake home and on June 6, 2006, was alone in the rear garden cleaning a greasy cooker with fuel from a lawnmower.

After going on fire he called emergency services twice and when an ambulance arrived was taken to Arrowe Park Hospital. He was transferred to Whiston Hospital, where he died of multiple organ failure and 87.5% burns to his body on June 8, 2006.

Merseyside Fire Brigade's station manager, Jed Flowerday, said when the fire service arrived they put out four fires, lit at different points in the garden.

Mr Flowerday told the court that there was a petrol can in one fire and Mr Warrington's clothes in another.

However, he was unable to determine the chain of events that led to the death or define the exact cause of the fires.

Speaking after the inquest Mr Warrington's father, Peter, fought back tears as he said: “This should never have happened. He was a lovely person.”