Tragedy as mum set fire to herself in the kitchen

12:48pm Wednesday 20th August 2008

A MOTHER set fire to herself after pouring white spirit over her clothes, an inquest heard.

Yvonne Buckley and her partner Mark Jackson had returned to their house in Holly Grove, Smithills, with their son, Alex, at about 11pm on February 24 after spending the day at her sister’s home.

But the inquest at Bolton heard that Miss Buckley became agitated in the kitchen and set herself alight.

Miss Buckley suffered serious burns and while being treated by paramedics, said: “What have I done, it was a mistake?”

She later died at Whiston Hospital, near Warrington.

The inquest heard that the family had enjoyed a good day at Miss Buckley’s sister’s home.

Miss Buckley and Mr Jackson, who had been together for more than 20 years, had “a very good relationship” and family life and experienced nothing more than normal domestic arguments, deputy coroner Alan Walsh was told.

On returning home, Mr Jackson and Alex watched television while Miss Buckley went into the kitchen.

But she slowly started to get agitated.

Mr Jackson said: “She started to get niggly and she started banging round the kitchen. I thought she will calm down in a minute. She was having a bit of a rant.

“When I smelt the turps and heard a cigarette lighter, I got up. She was standing in the living room and there were flames. I tried to put them out but she had caught fire.

“I was using a cushion to put out the flames and trying to get the garments off her.”

Alex ran to neighbour Andrew Tonge’s house at 11.40pm and told him “my mother is on fire”.

Emergency and medical teams treating Miss Buckley reported that they heard her say “What have I done, it was a mistake?”.

She was taken to Royal Bolton Hospital and later transferred to Whiston Hospital. Her condition deteriorated and she died on February 28.

The cause of death was multiple organ failure caused by 65 per cent burns.

Consultants said there was an “extremely high mortality rate” from such injuries.

Mr Walsh recorded a verdict of misadventure.

He said: “It was a deliberate human act with unintentional consequences. I am not sure she intended to take her own life. There is no evidence she had any problems, and had never threatened this in the past.

“This was a spontaneous act borne out of temper.”