Toddler died in frantic rescue
A desperate father ran into his burning home in a bid to rescue his 16-month-old son, an inquest heard.
Heroin user Jason Edwards was preparing lunch for his son George, in Kestral Lane, Wellingborough, when a fire broke out in the living room, which took the toddler's life.
An inquest at Kettering Magistrates' Court yesterday heard how Mr Edwards frantically tried to save his son.
He suffered extensive burns as he tried to rescue him on February 24 last year.
A witness statement by David Purnell, read to the court by Northamptonshire Coroner Anne Pember, described how he heard Mr Edwards shouting for help. He described looking over the fence at the back of the house and seeing the fire downstairs.
"The fire was about waist height and some of the flames were coming out of the window into the garden," he said.
"Inside was black with smoke. I ran round to the front of the house, the front door was open and smoke was billowing out. The only thing I could hear was the geezer shouting in the back garden, 'George, George'. At this time the fire was really raging. I could see flashes all over the window.
"The man ran into the house through the back door and I lost sight of him. It seemed like ages he was in there. He eventually came out of the door. His face was black and red, covered in blisters, his knuckles were red and black too."
George's distraught parents sobbed as they heard the evidence, including Mr Edwards' statement which described how a two-bar electric fire had been on in the lounge. "It was roaring like someone was standing there with a gas cylinder", he said. "At no time did I leave the house and I was in the house when the fire started and did all that I could to try to save George."
Recording a verdict of accidental death, coroner Anne Pember warned parents of leaving children alone and also of using illicit drugs while around youngsters: "I must say it's foolhardy to take any illicit substance while caring for a baby or young child."
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