Peter Richards was dead before blaze at home in Princess Road

Published: 21 October, 2010
by JOSIE HINTON

AN elderly man who was found dead after a fire ripped through his Primrose Hill flat died from natural causes, an inquest heard.

Peter Richards, 70, was found by fire fighters called to tackle the blaze in a top floor flat in Princess Road, where he lived alone, in July.

A next-door neighbour called the Fire Brigade when her alarm was triggered by smoke coming from the flat.

But an inquest at St Pancras Coroner’s Court on Thursday was told Mr Richards was already dead when the fire broke out, having suffered a heart attack.

Fire investigator Christopher Williams told the court Mr Richards had probably fallen onto a fan heater, leading it to overheat and set fire to his clothes.

He said: “There was a lot of household debris such as newspapers in front of the fan heater. 

“It’s my belief that the heart attack happened a couple of days before the incident and the fan was turning itself on and off as it overheated until the newspaper and his clothing caught fire.”

The court heard Mr Richards, a retired university lecturer, had fought depression and alcohol dependence in the years leading up to his death. He had also had a series of admissions to hospital after collapsing in public places, but had discharged himself before receiving treatment.

His GP had made several referrals to community mental health services, but Mr Richards had failed to engage.

Coroner Dr Andrew Reid recorded a verdict of natural causes.