A coroner has been unable to determine what caused the fire that killed an elderly man and his daughter at their Lower Hutt home.
Victor Bernard James, 73, and his daughter Beverley Nadine James, 49, died on October 20, 2005, when fire broke out in Ms James' bedroom
at their Housing New Zealand home in Taita. Wife and mother Lorraine James escaped the fire.
Wellington Coroner Garry Evans determined that Ms James died of smoke inhalation and burns while Mr James, who had emphysema, died of smoke inhalation.
Ms James had taken codeine and the sedative Zopiclone, which Mr Evans said could have contributed to her smoke inhalation by depressing her respiratory system.
Her levels of Zopiclone were two times higher than for normal use.
Ms James was discovered dead after the fire was put out. Emergency staff found Mr James alive but he died at the scene.
Mrs James was woken by smoke alarms and went to her daughter's room where her daughter called for her. She was beaten back by the heat and flames and called emergency services before going outside where she found Mr James had not followed her. She tried to go back inside to find him but was forced out by the smoke and flames.
Mr Evans said the most likely possibility for the fire starting was that Ms James had been smoking in bed.
He recommended Housing New Zealand investigate putting integrated smoke alarms in its houses, rather than standalone smoke alarms in different rooms.
- NZPA
