'Happy-go-lucky' dad died from devastating burns after Salford tower block blaze

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A pensioner died from ‘extensive burn’ injuries following a fire in his Salford tower block flat, an inquest heard today.

James Challoner, 83, died in Wythenshawe Hospital due to his injuries, Bolton Coroner's Court was told. Firefighters and paramedics scrambled to his second-floor flat, in Hornbeam Court, Pendleton, on July 24.

The 'happy-go-lucky' dad was rushed to a burns unit in south Manchester but his condition ‘deteriorated’ and passed away the same day, Senior Coroner Timothy Brennand heard this afternoon.

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Police Coroner’s Officer Julieann Hyde told the hearing: “Mr Challoner was discovered at home following a call reporting a fire within the address. He was conveyed to Wythenshawe burns unit with extensive burns to his body. He was treated but sadly deteriorated and died a short time later.”

Ms Hyde also confirmed that the retired docker was declared ‘life extinct’ and identified on the same day. A post-mortem examination carried out on August 2 found the primary cause of death to be ‘extensive burns’, and the police found no suspicious circumstances in investigating the fire, Ms Hyde continued.

Following her dad’s death, daughter Louise Challoner paid tribute to her late father. She told the Manchester Evening News: “He was always daft. He was a real character, a happy-go-lucky type of person. He did not take things too seriously. He was just my dad, really.

“He was five-and-a-half years into his leukaemia. We kept him safe over lockdown and he had COPD, as well. Me and my sister cared for him kept him safe, and then this happens.”

Despite his illness, Louise says James was still able to take part in family life until his sudden