Dad dies after slipping and falling into scalding hot bath at home

06 April 2024 , 13:01

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The man fell into a scalding-hot bath (file image) (Image: Getty Images)

A pensioner died after falling into a scalding hot bath at his home.

James Niland, 79, suffered extensive nine per cent burns and was rushed to hospital where he developed an infection and later died.

His inquest opened on Thursday and heard the dad, who had advanced liver and lung cancer, was known to start running a very hot bath "first thing in the morning" each day before getting in at 2pm once the water had cooled down.

Mr Niland, who was from Burnley, Lancashire, was described as being "drowsy" on arrival at the hospital on March 25 and a coroner believes his advanced cancer may have contributed to his death. The inquest will be completed at a later date.

But Kate Bisset, area coroner for Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen, heard it was likely Mr Niland accidentally slipped into the bath as he was waiting for it to fill up. She said: "He had a history of liver and lung cancer. He was receiving palliative care having denied treatment.

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"He was transferred to hospital with nine per cent burns having fallen into the bath tub. He was drowsy. He was treated for an infection and died on March 25."

The coroner continued: "It is likely that he would have died due to his advanced cancer diagnosis. His daughter said he would run a very hot bath first thing in the morning and get into it at 2pm. She believes he may have sat on the edge of the bath while running it and slipped in." The full inquest will be heard in Preston in due course, reports Lancs Live.

The tragedy comes after a toddler "suffered chemical burns" at a nursery in Motherwell, North Lanarksahire, but staff failed to act. Austin Riley, aged 15 months, was crying hysterically, thrashing around and frantically pulling at his onesie when his mum collected him from Firtrees Nursery in October last year. A large red mark was discovered on the tot’s stomach.

Police are now investigating the incident, after Scottish care watchdog, the Care Inspectorate, found that Austin’s health and wellbeing was "compromised" at the centre, which is in the Wishaw area of the town.

Amy Fenton