Man complained of cold before fatal heater fire

Scott Messenger's death was ruled as an accident at Essex Coroner's Court

A man who complained to his family of being cold died when a heater caught alight in his chalet, an inquest heard.

Scott Messenger, 53, was found unresponsive inside his home at the Bel Air Chalet Estate in St Osyth after a neighbour was woken by smoke.

Essex Coroner's Court was told a "carelessly discarded cigarette" near the heater could have caused the flames to spread.

Area coroner Michelle Brown ruled Mr Messenger's death on 13 April was an accident "exacerbated due to alcohol and drug toxicity".

He had a large volume of alcohol and painkillers in his system, she said, but he did not take his own life.

"The examination of the scene did not find any evidence of an accelerant or any faults with electrics inside the house," Ms Brown said.

A police report, read to the hearing in Chelmsford, stated Mr Messenger lived in a semi-detached chalet-style bungalow in Priory Close.

"You could see extensive black soot covering the walls, front door and rear kitchen window," said an officer who attended the scene at about 07:30 BST.

"The deceased was found on the floor, unconscious between the lounge and the hallway."

Mr Messenger shared concerns with his family about the temperature of his home prior to dying, the report revealed.

"He'd complained to them recently about being cold and had constructed plasterboard partition walls in the house," Ms Brown added.

She said firefighters believed the incident was "a result of a faulty heater" or cigarette smoke close to the device.

Mr Messenger's cause of death was given as carbon monoxide toxicity, profound alcohol intoxication and codeine toxicity.

In a tribute paid to him in April, fire station manager Nick Singleton said: "Our thoughts go out to his family and loved ones."