Tragic Blaze Kills Elderly Man in Old Coulsdon
A devastating fire ripped through a house on Coulsdon Road in Old Coulsdon during the early hours of Sunday, May 25. A 77-year-old man was found trapped and later pronounced dead at the scene.
Firefighters’ Race to Save Man Ends in Tragedy
The London Fire Brigade sprang into action at 1:38am, sending crews from Purley, Wallington, and croydon/" title="Croydon" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Croydon. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus rescued the man from the first floor using an internal staircase. Sadly, despite their efforts, the elderly man died on site.
Half the Home Destroyed in Rampaging Fire
The blaze gutted large parts of the semi-detached property, destroying half of both the ground and first floors. The home, located next to Keston Primary School, was engulfed in flames before the fire was finally brought under control by 3:00am.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed the victim’s age and revealed he was trapped on the staircase. No arrests have been made as the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Forensics Probe Cause as Fire Brigade Issues Warning
Forensic teams worked throughout Sunday to uncover what sparked the deadly blaze. At this stage, foul play is not suspected.
“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus rescued one man from the first floor using an internal staircase. Sadly, the man died at the scene,” said a London Fire Brigade statement.
The Brigade also urged all households to fit working smoke alarms on every floor and to have a fire escape plan ready.
For more fire safety tips, visit london-fire.gov.uk.
