Woman Dies After Paint Can Explosion During Garden Fire
A Newport woman died three months after suffering severe burns when a paint canister exploded in a garden fire, an inquest heard.
Katie Louise Marshall, 32, of Vaughan Williams Drive, Newport, died at Bristol Royal Infirmary on September 24. The incident occurred in June when Marshall placed a black bin bag containing rubbish and a paint canister onto a garden fire.
The canister exploded, prompting a neighbor to raise the alarm. Marshall sustained burns covering 45-55% of her body and was initially transported to the Grange Hospital in Cwmbran, then transferred to Morriston Hospital in Swansea. She was later moved to Bristol.
Marshall's death was attributed to bacterial pneumonia, a complication resulting from inhalation and burns. Senior coroner for Gwent, Caroline Saunders, deemed her death "unnatural" and has scheduled a full inquest for June 9, 2027. The inquest will examine the circumstances of the fire, how her injuries were sustained, and the subsequent medical treatment.