AN EXPLOSIVE fireball was so powerful it ripped through the bathroom walls of a Great Sankey house, instantly killing a retired marine engineer, an inquest heard.

The body of David Fletcher, aged 58, was found in the bath of his Rossall Road home on October 19 last year.

Fireman found the badly burned body of Mr Fletcher after forcing their way into the property. They also found an almost empty petrol container and the remains of a blowtorch in the gutted bathroom.

A post mortem examination revealed that he had died from extensive burns.

The inquest at Warrington Coroner's court last Thursday heard how a combination of petrol fumes and a gas canister caused a fireball, destroying two internal walls and damaging the roof.

Assistant Divisional Officer Graham Badrock, who investigated the fire, said: "It appears that the petrol vapours had been ignited which then ruptured the liquid petroleum gas canister attached to the blowlamp-like tool.

"This caused a fireball that lasted for about two seconds," he said.

The tool was almost completely destroyed in the blaze and no matches were found, casting doubts as to whether the fire was started by accident or deliberately, said coroner John Hibbert. He returned an open verdict.

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