Netherton house fire tragedy: Cause of blaze which killed a pensioner a mystery
The cause of a house fire which killed a pensioner in Netherton remains unknown – as an inquest ruled her death was an accident.
Gillian Howard, aged 67, died after the blaze in Spring Road despite the efforts of neighbours to save her.
A post mortem revealed she died after inhaling the products of combustion.
But firefighters have been unable to establish what sparked the flames.
At an inquest on Thursday, held at Jack Judge House in Oldbury, Assistant Coroner Angus Smillie reached a conclusion of accidental death.
Mrs Howard had shared her semi-detached home with her daughter, Nicola.
Nicola, aged 36, was her full-time carer to help her after a spinal injury she had previously suffered requiring her to sleep in a converted downstairs bedroom. Mrs Howard was also being treated for breast cancer.
The fire took hold on May 19 and Nicola was able to escape, after which she was taken to Dudley's Russells Hall Hospital and treated for smoke inhalation and shock.
Their home was left scorched and gutted by the fire and has since been boarded up.
The pensioner's body was found in the front lounge and she was declared dead at the scene.
Efforts were made by neighbours to help but they were unable to save her.
Sergeant Richard Narrowmore, from Dudley police, said after the tragedy: "I would like to commend the neighbours who valiantly tried to save this woman with little thought to their own personal safety.
"They alerted the authorities and assisted one of the occupants of the address while they awaited the emergency services."
