Coroner's Finding: Morris, Audrey Anne
Deceased
Audrey Anne Morris
Demographics
87y, female
Date of death
2017-06-07
Finding date
2018-06-13
Cause of death
smoke inhalation
AI-generated summary
An 87-year-old woman died from smoke inhalation in an accidental house fire. She was found in the kitchen after firefighters extinguished a fully-engulfed fire that originated near a wood heater in the lounge room. Fire investigators determined the fire was not deliberately lit and likely started from a spark or coal ejected from the wood heater, though the exact mechanism could not be conclusively determined. Post-mortem examination confirmed smoke inhalation with a carboxyhaemoglobin level of 68%, within the fatal range. No suspicious circumstances were identified. This case underscores the importance of wood heater safety, including proper maintenance, supervision of combustible materials nearby, and functional smoke alarms.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Specialties
Clinical conditions
Contributing factors
- accidental house fire
- wood heater as likely ignition source
- possible ejection of hot spark or coal from wood heater
- elderly person living alone
- delayed discovery of fire
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