Man's frantic dash to save his mother from house fire

Sarah McMichael - who was a widow and lived alone - perished in a fire at her Hillside Road home last March.

An inquest into the 83-year-old's death took place in Coleraine Courthouse last Thursday.

Her son - John - told the hearing he was at home with his wife on Saturday 28 March when he received a telephone call from his mother saying there was a fire in her home.

He raced to the house and when he got there moments later he encountered flames coming from the front window while other windows were blackened by smoke.

Mr McMichael went into the house but was soon beaten back by the heat and thick smoke.

He retreated outside aware that the Fire Service was en-route and when he looked through a window he saw his mother's bed which was situated downstairs in the house due to her lack of mobility.

It wasn't on fire initially but later collapsed.

Mr McMichael said his mother had been in good health in the days leading up to the disaster.

The court was told Mrs McMichael had a fire alarm in the past but there was no evidence of one being present at the time of the blaze.

It may have been removed as it kept sounding when Mrs McMichael lit a fire, Senior Coroner John Leckey heard.

Mr Leckey gave details of the post mortem carried out on Mrs McMichael which said she had died as a result of burns.

The pathologist had made reference to the removal of Mrs McMichael's right femoral head.

This he said would have restricted her movement.

Mr Leckey said tests carried out on Mrs McMichael's body showed she had been alive when the blaze started.

He said most of the burns sustained by Mrs McMichael occurred after her death.

"I hope that is reassuring to the family," he said.

Police sergeant Robin Young was tasked to the fire at 11am on the day of the blaze.