THE death of a retired midwife who was overcome by a fire at her home was a tragic accident, a coroner has said.

A post-mortem exam revealed Sandra Hubbard died of carbon monoxide poisoning when she was discovered during a fire at her bungalow in Emerald Walk, Chilton, in June.

The 78-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene following the incident, which happened in the early hours of the morning.

Sitting at Crook Coroner’s Court yesterday, Oliver Longstaff, heard how the fire was most likely to have been caused by a “smouldering cigarette” which set fire to curtains in Miss Hubbard’s bedroom.

Fire investigation manager at the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, Lee Aspery, said the “environment itself would have become quite toxic and untenable in no time”.

He also told the court how a bowl found near to the window suggested Miss Hubbard may have tried to put the fire out herself before succumbing to the carbon monoxide.

Mr Aspery said Miss Hubbard could have been in the bathroom at the time the fire started as a bath had been ran, suggesting the fire was able to take hold before the pensioner realised the danger.

The court also heard how both smoke and carbon monoxide alarms had been fitted in the Livin property, but it was hard to tell if they would have gone off because of the damage caused to them during the incident.

A post-mortem examination revealed Miss Hubbard died of a combination of carbon monoxide poisoning and severe coronary artery disease.

Hannah Wilson, of Durham Constabulary, also gave evidence and said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the fatality, which also claimed the life of Miss Hubbard’s rescue dog, a Shi Tzu Yorkshire Terrier cross, Sasha.

Recording the death as an accident, Mr Longstaff said: “It appears to me, more likely than not, that she became aware of the fire when she was in her bathroom.”

He added: “The fact she took a basin from her kitchen into the bedroom indicates she has tried to fight this herself – an instinctive reaction – but instinct is not always the same as wisdom.

“It is likely the fire may not have appeared to be especially serious but the smouldering fire which this fire became very quickly is extremely serious in terms of the poisonous nature of the atmosphere it creates and it seems to me that Miss Hubbard is likely to have been overcome while trying to fight the fire.”

Speaking after the inquest, Mr Aspery encouraged all smokers to use spring lid ashtrays and not to smoke in bed but outside their homes.

He also encouraged people to get out as quickly as possible if a fire started in their home and not try to tackle it themselves.