BRIDE BURNED TO DEATH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20851, 18 April 1931, Page 2 (Supplement)

BRIDE BURNED TO DEATH.

MISHAP WHEN LIGHTING FIRE. " 1 have never seen a caso of burns where the patient showed such remarkable pluck," remarked a doctor at the inquest on Winifred Ida Skipper, aged 21, of Shipdam, Norfolk, who received such seiious burns while she was lighting the fire on the morning after her wedding day that she died in hospital a few days later. Dr. I). Barlow, house surgeon at the Norwich Hospital, stated that Mrs. Skipper's burns were very extensive, covering almost the whole of the body, arms and legs.'

The husband, Herbert Skipper, aged 23, who had his hands heavily bandaged, stated that his wife got up to light the fire at 6.30, and five minutes later lie heard her shout, "Herbert, I am on fire." " I ran downstairs," he continued, "and saw her all in flames. I carried her outside and rolled her in the snow to put the flames out, and then I carried her across to Mrs. Hunt's, who lives opposite. " I asked my wife how it all happened. She said, " I don't know what did happen.' I saw a can which had contained paraffin standing by tho fireplace, and I can only suppose that she put some paraffin on the firo and tho blaze set light to her clothes."

A verdict of "accidental death" was recorded.