A pensioner who died in a fire at his home in Bury has been named as an inquest opens into his death. Raymond O'Donnell, 72, died during a blaze at his semi-detached house on Cherry Avenue on May 4.
An inquest opening at Rochdale coroners court on Monday heard Mr O’Donnell, a retired security guard who lived alone, was found in his living room after firefighters forced entry into the burning building just after 8am. Police coroners officer Paula Mills told the inquest a joint investigation between police and the fire service into the cause of the blaze found there were 'no suspicious circumstances or third party involvement'.
Ms Mills added: "Police received a call at 8.20am stating there was smoke coming from a property in Cherry Avenue. The fire service arrived to find the house ablaze.
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"On forcing entry they found a deceased male in the living room." Mr O'Donnell was identified by a description provided to police by his brother and a driving licence and letters addressed to him found in the property, Ms Mills added.
A cause of death has not yet been established, the court heard. Assistant coroner Alex Preston adjourned the hearing until a full inquest on August 31.
