Freak events killed father

A kind-hearted father-of-two whose body was discovered in his toilet after a fire died after a freak chain of events, an inquest heard.

John Timmins was found at his home in Mount Road, Wordsley.

It is thought Mr Timmins, aged 57, a diabetic, slipped into a coma having failed to manage his insulin treatment correctly before a cigarette he had been smoking set his clothes alight.

A post-mortem found the former driving instructor and scout leader died as a result of whole-body burns.

Friend John Owen told yesterday's hearing he usually saw Mr Timmins at weekends but had gone to his house at around 5pm on October 9 last year to organise a fishing trip.

When there was no answer at the front door, Mr Owen went round the back.

The back door was unlocked and when Mr Owen entered he found Mr Timmins "lying half in the toilet and half outside". "There was the smell of a fire gone out in the room," he said.

Fire investigator Peter Smith completed a full check of the scene. He said: "It is my opinion the fire was started by Mr Timmins dropping a lit cigarette."

When Black Country coroner Robin Balmain asked Mr Smith whether it was strange Mr Timmins had not been able to save himself from the fire, he replied: "The possibility exists that he may have fallen into a diabetic coma - that is the only obvious thing that comes to mind."

Mr Balmain recorded a verdict of accidental death.