Woman, 87, dies after hypothermia having been left unable to afford to turn heating on

A pensioner who was worried about the sky high costs of heating her home died after suffering hypothermia.

Barbara Bolton, 87, was found by relatives after falling ill during a bitter cold snap last month.

She was taken to hospital where her family said she was diagnosed with “severe hypothermia”.

The great grandmother later developed a chest infection and died almost four weeks later.

At an inquest, which was opened into her death last week, the coroner said Barbara’s death “was particularly accelerated by hypothermia.”

Ms Bolton told a GP that she couldn't afford to turn on the heating, an inquest heard (Manchester Evening News)

And tonight her son Mark Bolton said his “proud” mum had refused his offers of help to pay her power bills.

Mum of one Mrs Bolton had lived in her neat terraced home in Bury, Greater Manchester, for 40 years.

The former newsagent had retired at the age of 82 from her job as a pharmacy assistant in a Tesco store near her home.

Hypothermia can be caused by living in a cold house - with older people living alone particularly at risk (Manchester Evening News)

She had a single gas fire in her living room and used portable electric heaters to warm the rest of her two bedroomed house.

Mark, 61, who spoke to his mum every night, said she was worried about her heating bills, despite his assurances he would cover the costs.

"She was concerned about all her bills because she was a pensioner. She was careful, she was mindful of the prices and worried about them going up” he said.

Mark said he always told her “just keep your heating on” and “don’t worry about the bills mum”.

“But she was very stubborn and proud about paying her own way” he said.

A full inquest, looking at the circumstances which led to Ms Bolton's death, will take place later this year (Manchester Evening News)

He said his mum had “felt cold” when she was found sat at her kitchen table by one of her grandchildren, who had gone round after the family had not been able to contact her.

Mrs Bolton was taken by ambulance to Fairfield Hospital in Bury on December 11. She died on January 5.

At the opening of an inquest into her death last week, Julie Mitchell, the assistant coroner for Manchester North, said: “Her death was particularly accelerated by hypothermia and there is a possibility of self neglect due to the lack of heating so her death has been referred to the coroner.”

The inquest was adjourned to a later date.