Mother-of-two, 46, died after her synthetic hair extensions caught fire, ... trends now
A woman died from severe burns after her synthetic hair extensions caught fire, dripped on her clothing and set her bedding alight, an inquest has heard.
Mother-of-two Tracy Ann Gardiner was found dead in her smoke-filled bedroom in Tantobie, near Stanley, County Durham, last October.
Brave passersby tried to rescue her but were unable to reach her due to thick black clouds of noxious fumes within the terraced property on Unity Terrace.
Crook Coroners' Court was told Ms Gardiner, 46, had had a long battle with alcoholism and tests showed she was severely intoxicated at the time.
Firefighters believe her hair extensions caught fire as she lit a cigarette in the kitchen which then dripped on to her clothing as she made her way to bed.
The alarm was raised at around 9.15am on Sunday, October 15.
Mother-of-two Tracy Ann Gardiner was found dead in her smoke-filled bedroom in Tantobie, near Stanley, County Durham, last October
Pictured: Police vans outside the scene. Black smoke stains can be seen above the top floor window where flames were seen by neighbours
Firefighters believe Ms Gardiner's hair extensions caught fire as she lit a cigarette in the kitchen which then dripped on to her clothing as she made her way to bed
Stuart Tinnion, who lives locally and was walking his dog at the time, said: 'I looked up and saw black smoke billowing out of the upstairs window.
'I banged on the front door with my fists as hard as I could to try to alert anyone inside however nobody came to the door.'
Mr Tinnion dialled 999 and warned neighbours while David Bennett, who also came into the street, went around the back.
Mr Bennett said: 'I could see smoke at the upstairs window.
'I knocked loudly on the downstairs window and got no response.
'I ran through the cut and entered the back gate.'
Mr Bennett said there was a key left in the back door so he entered the property.
He said: 'Everything was calm downstairs.
'I ran to the bottom of the stairs and looked up.
The mum-of-two was pronounced dead at the scene, and police found no suspicious circumstances or third-party involvement, the inquest heard
'I noticed black heavy smoke at the top. I was in two minds but I thought it was too dangerous to go upstairs.'
After raising the
