A house fire in Ryde, which claimed the life of a 69-year-old man, has been ruled accidental, with the Coroner concluding the blaze was most likely caused by a discarded cigarette.
Brian Wilson Robertson, originally from Devizes in Wiltshire, died following the fire at his home on Monkton Street, Ryde on 8th December 2024.
Due to the extent of the damage, the property was initially deemed too unsafe to enter. Access was granted on the afternoon of 10th December, when Mr Robertson’s body was discovered on the first floor.
Pumping appliances from Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin and Newport were called to the scene alongside a plethora of further emergency resources from the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary.
In the days after the blaze – prior to the discovery of Mr Robertson’s body – Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams were called in from the mainland. A small section of Monkton Street was closed for several days whilst investigations took place.
Mr Robertson’s neighbours were also evacuated while crews worked to bring the flames under control, with Isle of Wight Council housing officers assisting those affected.
The inquest into Mr Robertson’s death was formally opened on 27th May 2025 with HM Senior Coroner Caroline Sumeray concluding proceedings by way of a written Section 9C Record of Inquest last week, on 18th February.
A post-mortem examination confirmed the medical cause of death as carbon monoxide poisoning and extensive burns.
A conclusion of accidental death was recorded, with the Coroner determining that, on the balance of probabilities, the fire was likely to have been ignited by a discarded cigarette.
