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Hotel fire man 'died from fumes' | |
(about 10 hours later) | |
A man who fell from the window of a burning hotel in Cornwall died from inhaling smoke and toxic fumes, a coroner has said. | |
Peter Hughes, a 43-year-old teacher from Cheslyn Hay, Staffordshire, died after a fire started at the Penhallow Hotel in Newquay on Saturday. | |
The interim cause of death was given at Truro City Hall ahead of a full inquest once the fire inquiry is completed. | |
The hotel, now reduced to rubble, has been declared a crime scene by police. | |
'Couldn't breathe' | |
Cornwall Coroner's Court heard how holidaymaker James Banks had befriended Mr Hughes, who was staying at the Penhallow Hotel along with his mother. | |
On the night of the fire, he heard Mr Hughes shout from a third floor window, "I can't move - my mother", before he jumped. | |
In a statement, paramedic Mark Bruce said Mr Hughes was alive when he reached him and had said: "I couldn't breathe up there, I had to jump, mate." | |
Mr Bruce said he could hear the fire "roaring" above as he administered first aid to Mr Hughes. | |
Cornwall coroner Emma Carlyon delivered the interim cause of death on Wednesday. | |
Human remains were found by teams on Tuesday searching among the hotel rubble for two missing people who are feared dead. | |
Eyewitness appeal | Eyewitness appeal |
The families of both missing people, believed to be in their 70s and 80s, were informed. | |
More than 80 people safely escaped from the building on the night of the fire. | |
Four people taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro are said to be improving. | |
A team of 20 people is continuing to search through the rubble of the hotel. | |
Police said it could take more than two weeks. | |
Officials are trying to establish a timeline of movement for individuals who visited the hotel and also the escalation of the fire. | |
They are appealing for witnesses who were in the hotel between 1900 BST on Friday and 0100 BST on Saturday to come forward. | They are appealing for witnesses who were in the hotel between 1900 BST on Friday and 0100 BST on Saturday to come forward. |
Police have also asked that anyone with photographs or video recordings of the fire should contact the police incident room on 08452 777 444, quoting Operation Truck. | Police have also asked that anyone with photographs or video recordings of the fire should contact the police incident room on 08452 777 444, quoting Operation Truck. |