A PENSIONER tragically died after being pulled from a house fire caused by an electric heater, an inquest heard.

Philip Whitelock, 73, was rescued from the blaze after passers-by noticed smoke rising from his cottage in Brisco, near Carlisle, on February 24 this year.

An investigation found the cause of the fire was a fan heater which had been placed on top of a sofa and had ignited.

Cockermouth Coroners’ Court heard witnesses had been passing by when they saw smoke coming from the property and heard a male shouting ‘help’.

The fire service arrived and managed to rescue Mr Whitelock from the house. Paramedics attempted to revive him but were unable to do so and Mr Whitelock was pronounced dead.

A small electric heater was found to have ‘melted’ in the living room and there was significant damage to the right hand side of the sofa.

An investigation carried out by Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service found the source of the fire was the fan heater being placed on a combustible surface.

Mr Whitelock was described as ‘reclusive’ and was not known to leave the property. His daughter, Victoria Whitelock, said the retired joiner was a ‘very private and stubborn’ person.

Prior to the fire, steps had been taken by adult social care and the district nurses to provide help and support to Mr Whitelock, who was struggling to keep on top of household tasks, but he had been ‘unwilling’ to accept this.

Mr Whitelock had been self-employed for most of his career as a joiner but later worked for Cubby Construction. He had a keen interest in scooters and had been well-known as a DJ in Carlisle.

The medical cause of death was given as smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning. Hypertensive heart disease was a contributing factor to his death.

Robert Cohen, assistant coroner for Cumbria, concluded that Mr Whitelock’s death was accidental.

Advice from Cumbria Fire and Rescue on the use of portable heaters:

  • Keep heaters away from curtains and furniture and never use them for drying clothes
  • Always unplug electric heaters when you go out or go to bed
  • Try to secure heaters against a wall to stop them falling over
  • Only use gas or paraffin heaters in well-ventilated areas