Evesham News
UPDATE: House fire claims second life
11:20am Monday 20th February 2012
AN elderly couple have died after a house fire in a county village.
They were rescued from a property in Jarvis Street, Eckington, near Pershore, at about 7.30pm on Friday, but both have since died.
As reported on Saturday a 69-year-old woman was found in cardiac arrest by paramedics and was pronounced dead later the same day in Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
The 73-year-old man, who was found unconscious after suffering severe smoke inhalation, died this morning. Neither have been named but their next of kin have been informed.
Area Commander George Sherry, from Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Sadly the elderly couple both lost their lives following the fire, and our thoughts go out to their family and friends.”
Neighbour David Doyle, who helped direct firefighters to the property, described the couple as infirm.
He said: “I was aware of the fire engines arriving outside and indicated to them exactly where the that house was.
"It was then obvious smoke was coming out of the bedroom window.
“They were very proud and independent people who did not always perhaps take the help that was offered them.
“It’s a shock to the locals that something like that should happen.”
A full investigation is underway and the blaze started accidentally in the kitchen and produced large amounts of smoke, which spread through the house creating challenging conditions for the firefighters.