Deceased
Sandra Lee Rothwell
Demographics
34y, female
Date of death
1999-11-16
Finding date
2001-01-12
Cause of death
incineration and inhalation of products of combustion from motorised wheelchair fire
AI-generated summary
Sandra Lee Rothwell, aged 34, died from incineration and inhalation of combustion products when a fire started in her motorised wheelchair while she was at home. She had severe cerebral palsy and was completely dependent on wheelchair mobility and carer support. The fire's origin was traced to an electrical fault in the wheelchair's battery box, though the precise cause could not be definitively determined despite thorough forensic investigation. No evidence suggested deliberate or accidental ignition by the deceased. The coroner expressed concern about the safety implications for other wheelchair users in the community and recommended liaison between disability services and the wheelchair manufacturer to investigate potential latent electrical faults.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
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