Irish pensioner 'died of spontaneous human combustion'

[TrueScotsman]

"A pensioner whose body was found totally burned died of spontaneous human combustion, a coroner has ruled. "

Michael Faherty, 76, was found lying face down near an open fire in his living room in Galway, Ireland.

Apart from his body, investigators could find no other damage in the house.

Dr Kieran McLoughlin, the West Galway coroner, said it was the first time in his 25 year career that he had returned a spontaneous combustion verdict, which is believed to be the first in Ireland.

continued at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...ner-died-of-spontaneous-human-combustion.html

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Irish pensioner 'died of spontaneous human combustion'

Man died from spontaneous human combustion, inquest finds By Brian McDonald


Friday September 23 2011



...
Garda Gerard O'Callaghan said he had gone to the house after the fire had been extinguished and found Mr Faherty lying on his back in a sitting room, with his head closest to an open fireplace.

The fire had been confined to that and the rest of the house sustained only smoke damage. No accelerants had been found and there was nothing to suggest foul play.

In reply to the coroner, Gda O'Callaghan said the only damage was to the remains, to the floor underneath him and to the ceiling above. The body had been totally burnt.

...

Pathologist Professor Grace Callagy noted in her post-mortem findings that Mr Faherty had suffered from Type 2 diabetes and hypertension but she concluded he had not died from heart failure.

His body had been completely cremated, and because of the extensive damage to the organs, it had not been possible to determine the cause of death.

The coroner said he was satisfied nobody had entered or left the house.

While a fire had been burning in the fireplace in the home, he was also satisfied that the fire itself was not the cause of the blaze that had burnt the deceased.

...
http://www.independent.ie/national-...s-human-combustion-inquest-finds-2885633.html

I would be interested in a few details - whether Mr. Faherty was a smoker and whether or not he was overweight. A possible explanation is someone falling asleep close to an open flame. A spark can cause clothing to smoulder, producing carbon monoxide to render the sleeper unconscious, or even causing death. The smouldering cloth will eventually reach adipose tissue - the melting fat can act as the wax of a candle, while the cloth acts as a wick, causing severe localized burning. Often the least fatty parts of the body are unharmed.

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Irish pensioner 'died of spontaneous human combustion'

Wikipedia has some examples;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wick_effect

 

[JimO]

Re: Irish pensioner 'died of spontaneous human combustion'

Wow! I guess if that happens, you just know it's your time to go.