Slush Pile: Freak DIY Accident in Newlyweds' G

2007 Slush Pile

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Freak DIY Accident in Newlyweds' G

2007 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/chroniclelive/eveningchronicle/tm_headline=freak-diy-accident-in-newly-weds-8217-garden&method=full&objectid=19601988&siteid=50081-name_page.html

Freak DIY accident in newly-weds’ gardenAug 9 2007 by Julian Cheatle, Evening Chronicle

A WOMAN told of her frantic efforts to save her husband as he turned into a human fireball in a freak DIY accident.

Bradley Peat, 34, was using white spirit to clean paint brushes after decorating at the family home he shared with wife Donna and their children.

But he lit up a cigarette which ignited the fumes from the solvent.

At an inquest at Newcastle Civic Centre, in the same room where Donna and Bradley had tied the knot only a few months ago, the hearing was told of her desperate efforts to save her husband.

Donna, 32, said within seconds his clothes were burnt off him and his boots had melted on to his feet.

Choking back tears, she said: “It was like something off a horror film. He was completely on fire. All I could see was his head.”

Bradley staggered past the living room window screaming his wife’s name, and she said: “I ran into the kitchen to fill a bucket of water but the water wouldn’t come quick enough. I pulled curtains from the washing machine and ran outside.

“He was rolling around on the floor trying to put himself out. I smothered him with the wet curtains.”

Coroner David Mitford praised Donna’s quick thinking in putting out the flames.

She said she comforted her fatally injured husband and told him his burns were not as bad as he feared.

“I wouldn’t let him see them. I knew how bad it was. I could see blood seeping through the curtains,” she said.

Despite his injuries Bradley was able to walk into the ambulance when paramedics arrived.

He was taken to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary where he was operated on several times by consultant plastic surgeon Sarah Pape.

But the court heard he suffered 70 per cent burns to his body and some were very deep.

He died on May 2 three days after the tragedy at their home in Derby Gardens, Wallsend.

Donna, a call centre worker who has a daughter Megan, four, and a stepson, Reece, seven, said: “The children were away. We were going to have a Chinese takeaway but Bradley complained about the smell of the paint and went to clean the brushes.”

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Mitford said a report from the consultant indicated Mr Peat’s clothes were soaked in white spirit and this explained why he had suffered such serious injuries.

Donna agreed the most likely cause of the fire was her husband lighting a cigarette as he cleaned the brushes.

Pathologist Jennifer Hamilton, who carried out the post-mortem examination, found Bradley died of pneumonia as a result of his burns.

After the hearing, Donna said she and Bradley were wed just eight months before the tragedy in the same room at Newcastle Civic Centre where the inquest was.

Submitted on 08/15/2007

Submitted by: Anonymous
Reference: Newcastle Chronicle, 9Aug2007

>> Moderator Scores <<

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
It always amazes me how many people readily light up a cigarette in the presence of highly flammable liquids. He must have spilled a lot on him if he went up in flames as quickly as the article indicates. Thanks for sending this in.

Chip said:
Maybe Toss: Not Amusing
A tragic turn of events. Although I cannot for the life of me figure out how he would have gotten so much spirit on his clothes I don't find anything amusing about the story as written. But I do appreciate that you sent it to us.

James said:
Definitely Toss: Not Amusing
The sadness and trauma of a grieving wife who witnessed the painful death of her husband completely overwhelms the stupidity of lighting a cigarette in the presence of flammable liquids. I don't find myself laughing at this incident, and I'll wager the readers wouldn't find this funny either. Nevertheless we DO appreciate the submission!

Graham said:
Definitely Toss: Too Common
Sadly, smoking around flammable materials is just too common these days.

Jorge said:
Definitely Toss: Not Amusing

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2007 Slush Pile

Freak DIY Accident in Newlyweds' G

2007 Reader Submission Pending Acceptance

2007 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance