Husband could not save wife in Bucknell blaze

An inquest on Diana Dasey, killed when an early morning fire gutted her home at Chestnut Meadow, Bucknell, on February 24, concluded a verdict of accidental death.

Mrs Dasey, a retired factory worker born in Kent, lived in the village near Clun with husband Phillip, 80, who attended the inquest with Patrick James, one of Mrs Dasey’s children from a previous marriage to the late Peter James.

Mr Dasey spoke of his pain at losing his wife in the blaze and said he had been unable to rescue her.

The fire started in a cupboard containing the house’s electricity supply, the hearing was told.

Andrew Seager, an investigator for the Health and Safety Executive, said it was unlikely the fire had begun outside as it would have affected neighbouring houses in a similar way. It was more likely the fire in the house had caused the cable outside to heat up, he said.

Heath Westerman, deputy coroner for Shropshire, said a post mortem revealed Mrs Dasey died of a combination of carbon monoxide poisoning, smoke inhalation and the fire.

At the inquest at Shirehall, a statement from Mr Dasey was read out.

Mr Dasey said he and his wife met 10 years ago when they were both living in Worthen. She had previously been married to Peter James and had four children from that marriage.

He she was wheelchair bound after a hip fracture in 2015 but they enjoyed life and often went out in the car.

He described how, at 5.20am, he was woken by a loud bang and scratching sound. He saw blue sparks coming from under the door of the cupboard containing the electricity unit.

"Opening it I saw thick black smoke inside, so I closed it again," he said.

He returned to the bedroom briefly but then went to collect his mobile phone and managed to get down the hallway to the front door, where he called the 999. But he was unable to get back in to save his wife.

He said: "There was no way my wife could have got out of bed on her own and there was no way I could have lifted her either."

Neighbours came out to help Mr Dasey, but by the time firefighters arrived the house was well ablaze.

"As well as my wife and dogs I have lost all my belongings," he said, "In hindsight I should have possibly just gone back in and got into bed with Diana and let the fire take both of us."

Andrew Seager, an investigator for the Health and Safety Executive, said it was impossible to determine exactly what had started the fire, only that it started in the cupboard containing the house's electricity supply.

Darren Smith, fire investigator for Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, added that the was no evidence there was anything else in the cupboard that could have started the fire other than the electricity equipment.

He told Mr Dasey: "I've been in the service 29 years and I don't feel there's anything you could have done to change the outcome of the incident."

Mr Westerman said Mr Dasey should try to take some comfort in those words.

He said: "I cannot even comprehend what you went through and how you have coped with it."