SMOKING in bed claimed the life of severely disabled Pembroke woman, a coroner has said.

An inquest into the death of 63-year-old Christine Mary McKelvie was held in Milford Haven on Thursday.

Mrs McKelvie, who had multiple sclerosis (MS), died from smoke inhalation and burns after a fire at her home in Ashdale Lane on June 29.

She was found dead in her bed by firefighters, after neighbours called 999.

It appeared that Mrs McKelvie, a widow, had been smoking in bed, and a lit cigarette had got trapped between her sheets and a fire retardant blanket on the bed.

Due to her illness she was unable to react quickly enough, or at all, to extinguish the cigarette, said coroner Gareth Lewis.

Despite having a working smoke alarm, it was only when neighbours saw smoke coming from the home that fire crews were alerted.

Firefighters forced their way into Mrs McKelvie’s home through a window, but it was too late to save her.

Coroner’s officer Jeremy Davies said Mrs McKelvie struggled with constant pain and refused to leave the house, becoming bed bound.

In the months before her death, she only had the use of her left arm. Mrs McKelvie was visited earlier in the day by carers, who said she had not been eating well during the previous month.

While clearing out her ashtray, they noticed a hole in her fire retardant blanket, and Mrs McKelvie said she had “set herself on fire”.

Before leaving, they administered her usual medication, and returned the empty ashtray, her remaining cigarettes, a lighter, and some water to the tray on her bed.

They made her as comfortable as possible, and said she seemed fine when they left.

One carer said Mrs McKelvie was a “lovely lady, always so thankful and grateful for our help”, adding that her death was “so sad”.

Mr Lewis said Mrs McKelvie died as the result of a tragic accident.