A DEVOTED dad died after a fire in his Whitehaven flat - despite the heroic efforts of a passer-by and police and fire officers to save him. 

Grant Flynn died at the West Cumberland Hospital two hours after fire broke out in his town centre home. 

Assistant coroner Simon Ward, presiding over an inquest into the May 7 tragedy, ruled that the 40-year-old’s death had been accidental. 

After hearing evidence from a fire investigator, Mr Ward concluded that the blaze had started in an armchair “almost certainly caused by discarded smoking materials”. 

All other possible causes of the fire had been ruled out, said Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service’s investigator Alan Sowerby, and the smoke alarms were working properly. 

Mr Ward added: “The smoke overwhelmed Mr Flynn once the fire took hold. He may have been asleep, which impaired his reactions, as might the drugs [diazepam and amphetamine] and alcohol [the equivalent of twice the drink-drive limit] found in his system.” 

The coroner “absolutely discounted” any suggestion that it had been a deliberate act. 

A long-time smoker, Mr Flynn had lived in the King Street flat – owned by mental health support team The Croftlands Trust – since August 2013. He had a history of psychiatric problems, the inquest heard, although he was said by his family to be much improved in recent times. 

At 8.15pm on May 7, passer-by Daniel Rafferty saw smoke bellowing from the block of flats, above the M&Co shop, and heard a man – now known to be Mr Flynn – making a noise inside the first-floor flat. 

Mr Rafferty, 26, told the inquest: “I knew I had to go in before it was too late.” 

Mr Rafferty entered the building and, joined by PC Nick Oliver who had arrived on the scene, tried to kick Mr Flynn’s door open but they were beaten back by the “thick black smoke”. 

Firefighters arrived on the scene moments later and were able to get an unconscious Mr Flynn out to the street where emergency aid was given. He died at the hospital two hours later due to severe burns and smoke inhalation. 

Mr Flynn’s sister, Donna Duffy, and Mr Ward praised the efforts of those who tried to save Mr Flynn, especially Mr Rafferty and PC Oliver, whom the coroner said displayed “commendable courage”. 

The coroner also highlighted the fire service’s “excellent” response time of only five minutes from the call being made. 

Mrs Duffy told yesterday’s inquest that her brother was a “devoted dad” to his 14-year-old daughter. She added: “He was a great brother and we are a close-knit family. He’s had his difficulties – stemming from when he lost his dad 16 years ago – but had improved so much and it’s tragic that it has ended this way.”