Woman Dies After House Fire

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32385, 26 August 1970, Page 1

Woman Dies After House Fire

(New Zealand Press Association) TIMARU, August 25. A Waimate widow who collapsed at the back door of her blazing house this morning died about 2} hours later in Timaru Hospital.

The woman, who lived alone and was the only person in the house at the time of the fire, was Mrs Eileen Grace Hutt, aged 75, of Shearman Street. The smoke was noticed about 11.30 a.m. by three neighbours, Messrs S. N. Ruddle, H. Cummings, and T. H. D. Clark. The latter two attempted to force their way through the front door, but were beaten back by flames. The three men ran to the back of the bouse and arrived as Mrs Hutt stumbled out

■ and collapsed on the steps at the back door. Although the heat was intense, Mr Riddle placed sacking over his shoulders and head and dragged Mrs Hutt clear. He suffered slight burns to a hand and his head. Mrs Hutt was taken to hospital suffering from severe burns. She died about 2 p.m. The kitchen and one of the bedrooms in the four-room house were gutted. The remainder of the interior was badly damaged. It is not known how the fire started.