Firefighter weeps at inquest

Mary Chaston. Photo / Supplied

A firefighter who left an elderly woman, he believed was dead in a burning house, was exhausted and suffering from smoke inhalation at the time, a court has heard.

Mary "Jean" Chaston, 87, died last September after a fire that started from an electric blanket in a bedroom at her Rangiora home.

A North Canterbury volunteer firefighter, who has name suppression, wept at an inquest as he told of leaving Ms Chaston inside the house, The Press reported.

She had her mouth open, with her eyes rolled back and no movement in her chest cavity, the firefighter told an inquest at Rangiora yesterday.

The firefighter didn't think he could move Ms Chaston because of her clothing and large build and said he was low on air supply and exhausted at the time.

A senior fire officer, also with name suppression, said he was frustrated to learn searchers had not recovered Ms Chaston, despite a rescue attempt having been ordered.

"I said we had no f...... right to determine if she was dead or not," he told the inquest.

Paramedic Rod Partington was "appalled" to hear a firefighter pronounce Ms Chaston dead and demanded she be recovered.

The outcome could have been significantly different had she been removed earlier, Mr Partington said.

Ms Chaston died at Christchurch Hospital from cardiac arrest caused by brain damage from smoke inhalation.

Husband Jack Chaston, 89, was pulled to safety by a member of the public.

The inquest before coroner Christopher Devonport will continue today.

- NZPA