Inquest opens into burns deaths of mother and baby

Maryam Diaz, 40, was 24 weeks pregnant when she died

An inquest has been formally opened into the deaths of a mother and her baby who both died from burns in Bradford.

Maryam Riaz, who was 24 weeks pregnant, and her son both died at Leeds General Infirmary on 27 October after emergency services were called to reports of a woman on fire in a garden on Dawnay Road.

Assistant coroner Ian Pears said the cause of death for Ms Riaz, 40, was burns and the cause of death for her baby was burns and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy - brain damage caused by a lack of blood or oxygen to the brain.

The inquest into both deaths was adjourned earlier and will reopen at Bradford Coroner's Court on 30 May.

The court heard the baby was delivered by emergency Caesarian section but died seven hours later due to his mother's injuries.

At the time West Yorkshire Police said Ms Riaz's death was not being treated as suspicious by officers.

Det Sup Al Weekes of Bradford District CID, said: "This has been a devastating and tragic incident."

He added: "Officers and services have offered support to the woman's family at what is clearly a terrible time for them."

The brief hearing was attended by members of Ms Riaz's family.

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