A COUPLE “devoted to each other” for 35 years died together in a mystery house blaze with their heartbroken family paying moving tribute.
David Edwards, 60, and wife Margaret, 55, were tragically killed in the horror fire which tore through their bungalow, an inquest heard today.
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Emergency services were called to the scene in St Dogmaels, Pembrokeshire, as the flames ripped through the property.
The hearing was told David was the main carer for his Margaret had mobility issues and slept downstairs in a medical bed.
But the inquest heard how an investigator could not be certain what started the mystery fire in December 2022.
The couple’s heartbroken families have now paid tribute to tragic pair who were “well known and respected” in the community.
In a statement, the families said: “We are distraught by our loss of Margaret and David Edwards, who were devoted to each other, having been together for 35 years and were well known and respected members of the St Dogmaels community.
“We would like to thank everyone for their support at this horrific time, it has meant so much to both families.
Coroner’s officer, PC James Lang-Ford said flames were coming through the roof and police had to force the front door open.
Mrs Edwards was found in an armchair and was pronounced dead just after 2.30am after unsuccessful attempts at CPR.
Her husband’s body was recovered a few hours later from a downstairs room – it is believed the bed containing Mr Edwards fell from the first floor as it collapsed.
A post-mortem examination found Mr Edwards died as the result of burns while his wife died as the result of carbon monoxide poisoning.
A fire investigation report, read by fire scene investigator Stephen Christopher Rowlands, said it was a “very, very cold evening” and the retained crew responded “slower than normal” because of the conditions.
Crews managed to make it to the first floor, but had to withdraw because of the ferocity of the fire shortly before the floor collapsed.
Mr Rowlands explained that a finger tip search was carried out and a number of items were examined, including cable reels, hair straighteners, and the gas supply.
There was no evidence of smoking as a cause and Mr Rowlands concluded that it was likely that the fire started in the downstairs bedroom but “couldn’t say with 100 per cent certainty what started the fire”.
Assistant coroner Gareth Lewis told the Haverfordwest inquest that the carbon monoxide levels in Mrs Edwards’ blood were 90.1 – anything over 50 is normally fatal.
He concluded that both Mr and Mrs Edwards died as the result of an accident in their home.