Wirral mum died saving daughter from house fire

Sep 9 2009 by Carrie Catterall, Birkenhead News

A DISTRAUGHT widower called his late wife a hero after she died saving their daughter’s life during a house fire.

Olwen Coath, 51, pushed her daughter Nicola through a first-floor window as flames spread through the semi-detached house in Easton Road, New Ferry, on August 29 last year.

But the 27-year-old then watched in horror as her mum was unable to escape and collapsed amid flames and smoke.

Nicola was later joined by her dad William and brother Andrew who had been at work during the blaze.

William said: “I just want to thank my wife for saving Nicola’s life.”

An inquest at Wallasey Town Hall heard on the day of the fire Mrs Coath had put clothes in a dryer situated in the hallway and went to bed at 6.30am after coming home from a night shift at Cadbury’s, in Moreton.

Half an hour later, neighbours saw flames coming from the house and banged on the door.

Nicola, who was in bed, woke and met Mrs Coath on the landing as fire raged up the staircase.

They ran to the bedroom and Mrs Coath managed to lift her daughter up and out of a high window at the property, which was engulfed by flames.

Nicola landed on a car and was helped to safety by onlookers and a nurse.

She then watched with horrified neighbours as her mum banged on the lower part of the window and then collapsed.

Firefighters found her body at about 7.30am. She was lifeless amid the flames and smoke.