A Hobart man died from severe burns after his mattress caught fire while he was “playing with paper and fire”, a coroner has found.
William John Dick, 64, emerged from his Goulburn Street unit in West Hobart covered in flames on the morning of June 2, 2024.
A neighbour heard a loud thumping noise shortly before 10:45am and went outside to find Dick screaming in pain and trying to put out the flames.
Bystanders threw water on him and called Triple Zero (000).
Police arrived at 10:50am to find smoke pouring from the unit and Dick sitting at the base of a stairwell with severe burns.
Paramedics found burns to his legs, buttocks, shoulders, back, scalp and arms.
“Mr Dick told paramedics that he had been sitting on his mattress, playing with paper and fire and that the mattress caught fire,” coroner Madeleine Wilson said.
Dick was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital with burns to 47.5% of his body.
His recovery was complicated by other health problems, including diabetes, obesity and a heart condition.
His family later declined further surgery and his treatment was changed to comfort care.
Dick, who had autism, died on June 8. His organs were later donated.
A fire investigator traced the blaze to the mattress just inside the front door and ruled out electrical faults.
He found the most likely cause was a lighter or matches.
The investigator said smoke spread so quickly the unit became “un-survivable within less than three minutes”. No smoke alarms were found.
The coroner said police found no suspicious circumstances and no evidence anyone else was involved. She found Dick had caused the fire himself.
A separate audit found the building had a history of incomplete approvals and outstanding fire safety requirements dating back decades.
Wilson found none of those issues contributed to the fire or Dick’s death because he was awake and able to escape.
“I acknowledge Mr Dick and his family for that lifesaving gesture [of organ donation] and convey my sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr Dick,” the coroner said.
