Corinna Ascherson's daughter told the inquest how her mother was sticking up for squatters in the last few months of her life and was a 'leftie to the end'

Published: 28 June, 2012
by TOM FOOT

A CORONER paid tribute to the life of a “remarkable woman” at an inquest into her death on Monday.

St Pancras Coroner’s Court heard that Corinna Ascherson, 75, died in her home in Rhyl Street, Kentish Town, after a discarded cigarette set light to her bed on March 8. Coroner Selina Lynch ruled the cause of death as smoke inhalation and recorded a verdict of accidental death.

The inquest heard that no smoke alarm was found in her bedroom of the respected writer, a lifelong journalist who worked for the New Statesman magazine and the Guardian newspaper.

Ms Lynch said: “I am quite satisfied she fell asleep and left a cigarette on the bedding. It is very sad; she led a remarkable life – she was clearly a remarkable woman.”

Speaking to her daughter, Isobel Thompson, she added: “I hope that is the memory you will take when you think of her.”

The inquest heard that a Careline alarm system fitted in her hallway was set off by the smoke and had alerted the company’s call centre. 

A staff member rang the house and spoke to Ms Ascherson shortly before her death.

Fire investigator Matthew Bradshaw told the inquest: “Ms Ascherson was asked if there was a fire in her property and she said she didn’t know, she couldn’t see. She said she could see some smoke. Then she became very distressed.” 

He added: “Careline reassured her that the fire brigade had been called.”

The inquest heard that the alarm was triggered at 5.25pm and that Careline staff contacted the fire service, at 5.28pm, which took just four minutes to arrive.

Mr Bradshaw told the inquest the flat’s bedroom had an unusually high ceiling and the smoke would have pooled there in a “smoke well” before spreading to the hallway.

“It would have taken some time for it to build up and come into the hallway,” he said. “It is likely she inhaled a lot of carbon monoxide before she woke up.”

The inquest heard that Ms Ascherson had “a history of both physical and emotional difficulties” including depression, and struggled to walk without the aid of a stick or frame. She had a mobility assessment two months before her death and had been warned about the dangers of smoking in bed, the inquest heard.

She had recently been admitted to the A&E at the Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, following a fall at home and had developed a “fear of falling”, the inquest heard.

Ms Ascherson’s doctor at the Prince of Wales Group Practice reported “recurrent falls” to the coroner.

Mr Bradshaw told the court that eight fire crews arrived to find a “substantial fire in the property and a lot of smoke”. 

He said an upstairs neighbour, named in court as Ms Bradley, had a key to Ms Ascherson’s ground-floor flat and had opened the door to see if she was inside.

An “unidentified person” had also tried to get in to help but had left the scene before Mr Bradshaw and his team arrived, the inquest heard.

Mr Bradshaw added: “She was found between the bed and the window of her bedroom, lying on the floor. The fire originated on the bed and the cause was a cigarette. We have ruled out all other possibilities.” 

He added: “We didn’t find a fire alarm in her bedroom.” 

Ms Thompson said she was “surprised” by this as she had seen one there on a recent visit and was in regular contact with her mother.

The court heard that toxicology reports found no alcohol in her blood stream and had a perfectly functioning liver. Ms Lynch said: “It seems to be one of those livers not affected by alcohol.”

Ms Thompson said: “Her diet had been mainly vodka. But towards the latter days of her life, she was doing everything much less – including drinking.”

Outside the court, Ms Thompson recalled how her mother was sticking up for squatters in the last few months of her life and was a “leftie to the end”, adding thanks to the fire service for its speedy response.