A WHEELCHAIR-bound pensioner tried to stamp out a fire in his home -- but died when toxic fumes knocked him unconscious.

Fred Turner suffered horrific burns when smoke and flames engulfed his kitchen and study.

Neighbours in Ainsworth Avenue, Halliwell attempted to rescue the 86-year-old but could not move more than two feet as thick grey smoke stung their eyes and affected their breathing.

Coroner Jennifer Leeming, who recorded a verdict of accidental death, said residents Ronnie Partington and Lee Smith should be commended for their courage.

The pair spotted smoke coming from the front of the house on Ainsworth Street, Halliwell.

Nextdoor neighbour Mr Partington, who had a key, unlocked the front door, but he was confronted by a wall of smoke.

He went around the back of the house with Mr Smith, jumped over a gate and smashing the door of the conservatory with a three feet piece of wood. But they were beaten back by the smoke.

Mr Partington said they covered their faces with tea towels before walking into the house.

"It was getting hotter and hotter and we just had to get out. The smoke was pushing us away."

He added: "He was a friend, a good friend. We only did what we felt we had to."

According to fire officer Stan Eames, Mr Turner appeared to have been fixing a slide viewer in his study when the transformer used to give it power short-circuited.

It caused the device to overheat and the fire quickly spread to the books and work tops in the room.

There was evidence that Mr Turner had tried to stamp on the fire, the court heard. He had thrown the slide viewer to the floor in an anxious attempt to smother the flames.

Mr Turner, a keen painter and photographer, would have been aged 87 just eight days after his death on June 2.

He lived with his daughter, Susan, who had gone to Blackpool that day with a friend. She had looked after her father for five years. Eight years ago, Mr Turner had broken his hip leaving him largely immobile but Susan had worked out a fire drill in case of emergencies. It appeared Mr Turner did not follow the drill and the court heard he had made no attempt to contact Careline staff using a cord which was attached around his neck.

The independently minded pensioner, who had suffered two strokes in the years leading up to his death and had slight Parkinson's disease, was reluctant to use the cord, according to Susan.

She was described by the coroner as being "a thoughtful woman who looked after her father well".

Dr Jonathan Pearson, consultant pathologist at the Royal Bolton Hospital, said Mr Turner had suffered first degree burns and would have been unconscious and unable to raise the alarm.

He was still in his wheelchair when fire officers arrived. He was taken to hospital but was found to be dead on arrival.

Three fire crews from Bolton North, Farnworth and Horwich battled the fire for around an hour using six breathing apparatus and two hose reels to extinguish it.