Home / Disasters and Accidents / PENSIONER WARNED OVER SMOKING IN BED BEFORE TRAGIC FIRE DEATH
PENSIONER WARNED OVER SMOKING IN BED BEFORE TRAGIC FIRE DEATH
2 Dec, 2025
Summary
- A pensioner died days after being warned about smoking in bed.
- He was found dead in his bed where the fire originated.
- Carers and nurse visited him four times daily before the fire.
A preventable house fire tragically claimed the life of 77-year-old James Stokes, who had been repeatedly warned about the severe risks of smoking in bed. Days before the incident, Mr. Stokes' nurse had noted his habit and made a referral, which he opposed. Despite explanations of the dangers, he declined intervention.
The fire broke out at his Mansfield home on August 18, with a neighbor raising the alarm. Firefighters discovered Mr. Stokes deceased on his bed, the fire's origin point, with an ashtray and lighters nearby. His immobility following a hip fracture meant he often smoked while lying flat.
Coroner Amanda Bewley concluded that Mr. Stokes died from the effects of the house fire, attributing it to a naked flame igniting his clothes or bedding. She expressed sorrow for the tragic circumstances, noting his defiance of repeated advice from his nurse and niece.
