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Hotel fire man 'died from fumes' | Hotel fire man 'died from fumes' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A teacher who fell from the window of the burning Penhallow Hotel in Newquay, Cornwall, died from inhaling smoke and toxic fumes, a coroner has said. | |
Peter Hughes, 43, from Cheslyn Hay, Staffordshire, died after the fire on Saturday. | |
His brother John said he feared their mother, who was on holiday with Mr Hughes, had also perished. | |
The interim cause of death was given at Truro City Hall ahead of a full inquest once the fire inquiry is completed. | 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. Two people are still missing, feared dead. | |
'Couldn't breathe' | '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. | 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. | 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." | 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. | 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. | 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 the two missing people. | |
Eyewitness appeal | Eyewitness appeal |
The families of both missing people, believed to be in their 70s and 80s, were informed. | 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. | 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. | 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. | A team of 20 people is continuing to search through the rubble of the hotel. |
Police said it could take more than two weeks. | 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. | 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. |