A Woolwich widower died after trying to put out a fire himself inside his badly cluttered flat, an inquest heard.

Malcolm Cunliffe, 83, was pulled semi-conscious, dressed in pyjamas and dressing gown, from his Riverview Heights flat in Eglinton Hill on February 25 this year and died two days later in hospital from pneumonia and breathing in the fire fumes.

But despite concerns over a delay in mobilising a fire crew at Plumstead, coupled with the recent closure of his local fire station in Woolwich, Southwark Coroner's Court heard these were highly unlikely to have played a part in the retired civil servant's death.

Lead investigator for the London Fire Brigade Mark Ross told the inquest on November 20 that the fire appeared to have been started by an electrical heater setting alight some of the items surrounding it in Mr Cunliffe's cluttered bedroom.

He said the heater had been turned off, a kitchen tap was running and, when found, "Mr Cunliffe appeared to have been making his way back into the room".

None of the flats had their own smoke alarms but a neighbour called the fire service after seeing smoke coming from the pensioner's flat shortly after 8pm.

Assistant Commissioner Dave Brown was quizzed over an error made at the control room, which meant a staff member tried to rouse the Plumstead team by ringing a phone that was out of action three times.

He admitted: "That process, that delay in contacting the fire station probably added another minute and 20 seconds."

The "unfortunate oversight" meant Eltham and East Greenwich appliances were dispatched before the Plumstead engines.

Following the tragic death, the Fire Brigades Union and London Assembly Member Len Duvall had questioned whether the recent closure of Woolwich fire station by Boris Johnson might have contributed to the death.

Brigade investigator Charlie Pugsley admitted that he had not looked at that issue specifically, but added that, because the fire was burning for so long before it was detected, delays were not a significant factor.

And, reaching a verdict of accidental death, Coroner Lorna Tagliavini agreed, saying: "I'm satisfied that, if there were any delay, then really, in the circumstances, it was minimal."

After the inquest, Mr Brown said: "This was a tragic incident and our deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of Mr Cunliffe at this difficult time. 

"For any firefighter, however experienced, dealing with a fatal fire is traumatic and I would like to praise the actions of those crews that attended this incident, the Control staff who managed the incident, and the fire investigation team which conducted the painstaking investigation into its cause.

"The Coroner noted that in the case of Mr Cunliffe, there were several factors which were significant, the lack of a smoke alarm and that Mr Cunliffe had tried to fight the fire himself rather than raise the alarm. The fire unfortunately wasn’t discovered until a neighbour noted smoke entering their flat and only then was the Brigade called. 

"The Coroner agreed with our fire investigators, that the attendance time of the first fire engine to reach this incident was not a factor in Mr Cunliffe’s death.

"The majority of fire deaths happen when there is a delay in calling the Brigade. I can’t stress how important is to get out and call the Fire Brigade if you have a fire. 
Don’t try and tackle it yourself. 

"Once again I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Mr Cunliffe for their tragic loss."