Keith Wicks smoked up to 40 cigarettes a day despite concerns about his specialist hospital bed and highly flammable paraffin-based skin creams.

An inquest heard he was unable to escape when flames engulfed his mattress and curtains at his Norwich home in Spynke Road on November 6 last year.

Flames could be seen from a distance. (Image: Emily-Rose Thompson)

Norfolk Coroner's Court looked at whether opportunities had been missed to prevent the tragedy, including concerns about his continued smoking, highly flammable medical equipment and bedding potentially impregnated with paraffin-based creams.

The hearing also revealed that a referral to Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service for a home fire safety assessment had been closed after three unsuccessful attempts to make contact.

Some family members believed more could have been done to protect Mr Wicks, who had Alzheimer's disease and was increasingly dependent on others.

However, the coroner rejected allegations of neglect, finding those living with him had been doing their best in difficult circumstances while respecting his wishes.

The blaze broke out on Thursday (Image: Facebook)

The court heard Mr Wicks had been paralysed from the waist down when a tree fell on him in 2018.

A retired company director, he had been a heavy smoker throughout his life, consuming between 20 and 40 hand-rolled cigarettes a day.

Despite repeated warnings about the dangers of smoking in bed, particularly around his specialist pressure-relieving mattress and paraffin-based skin treatments, he continued to smoke alone in his bedroom.

His partner of 29 years, Mandy Edmonds, described how she had made him a sandwich for lunch shortly before the fire broke out at around 1.20pm.

She subsequently heard shouting and discovered his bed and curtains engulfed in flames.

Keith Wicks died in a house fire (Image: Facebook)

Unable to find a fire blanket, she called 999 and was advised not to throw water........

© Norwich Evening News