AN elderly, wheelchair-bound woman died after using her oxygen mask while smoking, an inquest heard.

Marion Greig, aged 83, was found unconscious at her home in Lichfield Avenue, Ronkswood, Worcester, on the morning of Sunday, March 11.

The former cook, who lived alone, had earlier called her health worker complaining that her room was full of smoke. The health worker, in turn, called the fire brigade.

Worcestershire coroner Victor Round told the court in Stourport-on-Severn that Mrs Greig, who was known as Joan, suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and was dependent on oxygen.

He said: "She was a chronic smoker who smoked 60 cigarettes a day. She couldn't walk and she was wheelchair-bound. She'd had a number of heart attacks and constant breathing problems. We know at the time of the fire starting she was smoking while at the same time using her oxygen mask to assist her breathing."

The court was told that the police and fire service spoke to Mrs Greig's granddaughter who said her elderly relative would regularly smoke while using oxygen and had been told on many occasions of the dangers.

"On one occasion she told her granddaughter that she had seen flames travelling back up the oxygen tubes," said Mr Round.

"The grandaughter, of course, did everything she could to stop her, but the deceased would say, I don't care what happens'.

The firefighters who discovered Mrs Greig conducted a controlled test by placing a lit cigarette on to oxygen tubes. Mr Round said they had burnt with "ferocity" and proved how easily the tubes could be ignited.

The widowed Mrs Greig was resuscitated at the scene but she died 90 minutes later after being taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Mr Round cited the cause of death as smoke inhalation, due to a fire started by the her lit cigarette coming to contact with her oxygen supply tubes.

He recorded a verdict of accidental death.