A Scots mum-of-three died from “extensive burns to her body ” when a blaze tore through her home, an inquest has heard.
Michelle Howie, 43, was killed in the fire at her house in Sedgley, in Dudley, the West Midlands, on May 8, despite the efforts of heroic neighbours who tried to save her life.
A brief hearing at Black Country Coroner’s Court in Oldbury this week heard that emergency services were called to the scene after receiving multiple calls from the public at around 3.45pm.
Michelle, who in believed to have grown up in Dunblane and was described in tributes as “Sedgley’s Scottish Queen”, was at home with her partner and daughter when the fire broke out.
She was pronounced dead at the scene soon after.
A post mortem found that the care assistant died as a result of her burns, while the 43-year-old man and 16-year-old girl caught up in the blaze were also treated in hospital for serious injuries.
Local reports described at the time how several brave young men ran over to the house with ladders before the fire service arrived, but were forced back by thick smoke billowing from the property.
One witness said he tried to pull the mum to safety from an upstairs window but she was unresponsive.
He said: “Lots of smoke went in my face, I turned my head away and kept pulling and trying to lift her out but there was nothing more I can do.”
Fire crews arrived on scene within four minutes and brought the blaze under control.
Police and fire investigators confirmed the mum’s death was accidental and not being treated as suspicious.
Neighbours rallied together to raise more than £9,000 to support the family following the tragedy through a crowdfunding page.
Michelle’s daughter, Beth Simcox, paid tribute to her mum in the days following her death saying: “She was an amazing mother to all three of her children. She was my dad’s rock and they were incredible together.
“No matter what life threw at my mum she always had a way of figuring it out.
“We are all going to miss her dearly especially her mum in Scotland and my dad Shaun.”
Assistant coroner for the Black Country Laura Nash formally adjourned the hearing until a later date, yet to be fixed.
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