AN inquest has been opened into the tragic death of a man in hospital after a fire at a Keswick flat.

Richard Hawley, who was aged 44, died at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary on 30th April.

During the early hours of the previous day, firefighters from Keswick, Penrith and Ambleside had been called to tackle a blaze at the address at Wesley House in town centre Tithebarn Street just after midnight. The building is a former Primitive Methodist Chapel which stands opposite Booths supermarket.

Cockermouth Coroners’ Court heard today (Tues) that police were also called amid a report that Mr Hawley was trapped in his home, which members of the emergency services found to be well alight.

“When police arrived Mr Hawley was receiving medical treatment on the pavement,” said area Cumbria coroner Ms Kirsty Gomersal while outlining brief circumstances she had been given. “The house fire was put out.”

The cause of the blaze was being treated as accidental, a fire service spokesman had said in the aftermath.

Mr Hawley received treatment at the Royal Victoria Infirmary but sadly died on 30th April. Formal identification had been provided by Mr Hawley’s brother-in-law.

A doctor’s statement had been provided in lieu of a post-mortem report. From this statement, Ms Gomersal had been offered a primary cause for Mr Hawley’s death, on the balance of probabilities, of multi-organ failure due to 45 per cent total body surface burns and also alcohol-related liver cirrhosis.

“Given the cause and circumstances of Mr Hawley’s death, I am satisfied that an inquest is required,” said the coroner. In order that further enquiries could be made, the hearing was adjourned to a provisional conclusion date of 15th October this year.”

The inquest also heard that Mr Hawley was born in Stoke-on-Trent, and was a single man.