Man killed by fire at Bolton Road, Farnworth cannabis farm

The blaze above the Lime Tree restaurant on Bolton Road, Farnworth, and that ultimately killed 22-year-old Geri Rapo broke out on Monday, November 27 last year.

An inquest into Mr Rapo’s death that concluded this week heard that he had been living and working at the cannabis farm on the first floor of the building.

Senior Coroner Timothy Brennand said: “It is my view that given the role that Mr Rapo was required to perform, that of a gardener or cultivator, of the cannabis that he was well down the chain of command.”

The inquest heard how Mr Rapo had been “a happy boy, who lived a calm life without problems” before his death.

The fire started on the first floor (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Brennand said he was “of the view” that the 22-year-old had been recruited to work at the farm as a “desperate illegal immigrant” in need of a “roof over his head.”

The inquest heard how Mr Rapo arrived in Britain from his native Albania illegally, taking what Mr Brennand called “a perilous journey, I have no doubt, to better his life in another country".

The fire had broken out last November after the people who had set up the farm had “nefariously” abstracted electricity on the first floor of the building.

Mr Brennand that he accepted that the fire had been started by an incendive fault in the illicit installation on the first floor.

Police on the scene on Bolton Road, Farnworth (Image: Newsquest)

Firefighters were called to the scene to tackle the blaze and the emergency services were at first not aware that there was anyone inside the building.

But on December 1 a building contractor saw what he believed to be a body, which pathologist Dr Philip Lung confirmed to be human remains.

This was confirmed to be the body of Mr Rapo.

Dr Lung’s report found that the 22-year-old had died by “inhalation of the process of combustion”, or “smoke inhalation".

Mr Brennand said that there was no evidence or concerns that the young man had been a victim of human trafficking or modern slavery.

But he said that “barefaced audacity” of the criminal conspirators who had set up the cannabis farm "beggars belief".

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Mr Brennand said: “This case is an object and stark reminder of the inherent danger of any nefarious or illegal abstraction of electricity.”

He added: “It is quite clear to me that these criminals had gone to extraordinary lengths to conceal what was happening in a quiet part of Farnworth above an Indian restaurant.”

Mr Brennand said he took the view that Mr Rapo’s death came about as an “unintended consequence” of a deliberate act.

He recorded a conclusion of misadventure and closed by offering his sympathies and condolences to Mr Rapo’s loved ones.