The courage of two fire officers who recovered an elderly woman from her burning home has been recognised at an inquest in Douglas.

The Coroner, Michael Moyle, said Gary Hinds and David Callow showed a considerable amount of bravery and had his commendation.

Mr Moyle heard 82 year old Wynn Alison O'Meara was found unconscious and not breathing in her Ballasalla home, during the evening of December 12th.

She was carried from the premises and revived by emergency services personnel outside, but died in Noble's hospital two days later.

Graham Bell reports:

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Fire crews from Castletown and Douglas were sent to the two storey cottage, in Mill Road, just before 6:30 pm.

The property was well alight when they arrived and the officers went inside, wearing breathing apparatus.

They used thermal imaging equipment to find Mrs. O'Meara in a smoke logged room, away from the burning living room, where the blaze had started.

She regained consciousness, following treatment from paramedics and fire officers, but succumbed to the effects of smoke inhalation on December 14th.

The inquest heard the fire was caused by a spark from a log on an unguarded fire, which ignited an armchair.

As well as praising the two fire officers Mr Moyle urged everybody who has an open fire to get a fire guard. He also said people should spend five minutes checking their fire alarms work and organise an escape route from their home should one ever be needed.

Mr Moyle was also told the two officers went back inside to check the upper floor after Mrs. O'Meara had been recovered.

The verdict was accidental death.