A paraplegic former company director, Keith Wicks, 78, died in a house fire in November last year after ignoring warnings about smoking in a specialist hospital bed that became impregnated with paraffin-based creams, an inquest heard.
Wicks, who lost the use of his legs in 2018 following an accident, continued to smoke up to 40 cigarettes a day. He had been told that the emollients used to protect his skin posed a significant risk as they transferred to bedsheets. The fire engulfed his mattress and curtains in the converted dining room where he slept at his home in Norwich, Norfolk.
His partner of 29 years, Mandy Edmonds, was unable to find a fire blanket. A 999 call handler advised against using water due to nearby electrical equipment, including the bed. Thick smoke prevented family members from reaching Wicks, and he was declared dead at the scene after firefighters arrived.
Coroner Maeve Sykes considered whether opportunities had been missed by his family to prevent the tragedy. She concluded that they had attempted to respect his wishes while managing increasingly complex circumstances, and that Wicks retained the capacity to decide whether to smoke, despite being aware of the dangers.
A referral had been made to Norfolk Fire Service for a home fire safety assessment, but it was closed after three unsuccessful attempts to make contact. The inquest was informed that a safeguarding review now ensures the fire service reports back to the referring organization if an assessment cannot be completed.
Wicks, who was a director of an investigation and security firm until 2012, had been a heavy smoker all his life. He remained bedbound for the last year of his life, receiving care visits three times a day. Carers described him as a 'dream client' and a 'lovely gentleman,' and stated he retained the mental capacity to make decisions, including smoking. They regularly reminded him to avoid smoking for at least an hour after applying paraffin-based creams to his skin.
Edmonds had gone to make Wicks a sandwich when the fire broke out. She and other family members were unable to reach him due to the flames and smoke. By the time firefighters arrived, his shouts had ceased.
The cause of death was given as extensive thermal injuries sustained in the fire. Wicks’ daughter, Judith, told the inquest her father’s death was “preventable” and that he “need not have died in such a horrific way.”
Family friend Nicole Hayes recounted overhearing warnings about the specialist mattress when it was delivered and passing these concerns to Edmonds, asking, “Do you want Keith to go up in flames?” Evidence presented at the hearing suggested Wicks’ sheets were changed weekly, raising questions about whether this frequency was sufficient. It was claimed this had not been identified in care planning, and a representative from Norfolk County Council’s older persons and physical disabilities team stated there was no formal risk assessment or evacuation plan.
However, Ms Sykes found no evidence of neglect or failure to provide basic care and recorded a conclusion of accidental death. Edmonds described her late partner as “a good man” and stated, “I miss him.”
According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, careless disposal of cigarettes is the single biggest killer in accidental house fires. In 2025-2026, 1,819 accidental dwelling fires were started by smoking materials, resulting in 43 deaths.