Mystery of grandad's death when car burst into flames

But mystery surrounds the death of David Pugh with a coroner saying he could not be sure how the fire started.

Mr Pugh's body was discovered next to his Ford Focus in a layby in Forge Lane, West Bromwich. He had suffered 'catastrophic burns' covering 60 per cent of his body.

He was spotted on CCTV earlier in the day at a petrol station on Kingstanding Road, Oscott, filling a fuel can with petrol, the inquest at Smethwick Coroner's Court heard.

Fire investigators concluded that the blaze was caused by the 74-year-old deliberately igniting the fuel – but his family disagree.

The inquest heard that his body was also believed to have been covered in petrol. Experts said the likelihood of a spark from inside the car igniting the petrol was unlikely and there was no damage to the engine.

But the possibility of suicide was dismissed by his family, who said Mr Pugh, from Great Barr, had seemed his usual self before the fire and was overjoyed by the birth of his first grandson.

Witnesses also saw Mr Pugh trying to escape from the burning car, raising more questions about whether the retired factory worker intended to take his own life.

His family believe he had set off to confirm the route to Sandwell Valley Crematorium as he was due to attend a funeral there in the coming days. They said they believed he died as a result of a freak accident.

Senior Black Country Coroner Zafar Siddique reached an open conclusion.

He said: "Having heard all the evidence I can't say for sure he deliberately intended to take his own life. On the evidence from the family, he was making plans and had celebrated the birth of his grandson. There was no history of depression or suicidal thoughts.

"I have been asked by the family to consider whether it could have been an accident but the evidence from the fire officer was that it was unlikely there was an engine defect or a spark from somewhere."

His daughter Louise Fletcher told the hearing: "He had four grandchildren and had just become a grandfather to a grandson which he had always wanted. He was due to come up and see his grandson on the afternoon that he died. He was a devoted husband and loved by all his family."

She added: "We know he would not, under any circumstances, kill himself. He wouldn't want to leave my mother, he adored her. It was not in his personality to do that."