Fire death of Whanganui 78-year-old was avoidable, coroner says

A coroner has found a fire which killed Whanganui woman Jennifer Wilks was likely caused by a faulty electric blanket or multi box.

However, two things might have saved her life: a working fire alarm in the Heads Rd house and had Mrs Wilks had got out of the house instead of calling 111.

Mrs Wilks, 78, died in Whanganui Hospital on April 22 last year, a day after the fire which started in the bedroom of her home.

Coroner CJ Davenport found the smoke alarm in the hall of the house had no battery and noted Mrs Wilks had impaired mobility as a result of rheumatoid arthritis.

Mrs Wilks was found by Fire Service officers at about 9.30pm lying in the hallway of her home and was resuscitated with CPR and adrenaline by firefighters and later ambulance staff.

Earlier Mrs Wilks had made a 111 call. She was coughing and was told by the 111 operator to leave the house.

The house was well alight when the Fire Service arrived with "heavy smoke and little visibility".

Investigators found the fire started in Mrs Wilks' bedroom; there was no plastic outer cover on the multibox and the age of the electric blanket couldn't be determined.

The coroner noted that if able, it would have been preferable for Mrs Wilks to call 111 after leaving the house, and a working smoke alarm could have given her earlier warning of the fire.

"I note GP Dr Scrimshaw's comment that Mrs Wilks had significant disability from rheumatoid arthritis and she was unsteady on her feet and used sticks to assist her in walking.

"That immobility would also have been an impediment to Mrs Wilks quickly evacuating the premises in the frightening situation she encountered when the fire started in her bedroom."

Mrs Wilks was a described a "delightful, kind woman of sober habits by her GP.

Rheumatoid arthritis made her unsteady on her feet and she used sticks to walk.

The coroner ruled the death accidental.