A homeless man who ran out into a New Malden street on fire before collapsing in front of people died after his cigarette set fire to his sleeping bag as he slept. 

Surrey Comet:

Police and London Fire Brigade investigating in Kingston Road the morning of the accident

Colin Edwards, 51, originally from Surbiton, was found outside empty office building Clear House in Kingston Road, with 50 per cent burns to his upper body.

He had fallen asleep in a nearby car park after lighting a cigarette in the early hours of Friday, March 6 this year, the inquest into his death at West London Coroner’s Court heard yesterday.

Sunday, March 8: UPDATE: Man severely burned in New Malden fire 'not suffering from life-threatening injuries'

Tuesday, March 10: Burns victim dies in hospital days after being found on fire in New Malden

Thursday, March 12: Friends claim man found on fire in New Malden 'let down' by authorities

Wednesday, April 29: Investigation launched into death of man found on fire at Clear House, New Malden

Lighter fluid had spilled onto his clothes sparking the fire that spread to his body as he desperately tried to roll over and extinguish the flames, the inquest heard.

He died of his injuries on Monday, March 9 at a specialist burns unit in Broomfield Hospital in Essex.

Surrey Comet:

Tributes laid to Mr Edwards at Clear House in March

Reading a statement from Sergeant Harvey, Coroner Chinyere Inyama said: “He woke in the middle of the night to find his sleeping bag smouldering.

“He started to roll around to distinguish the smoke, but while doing so apparently a small pocket lighter had broken causing the fluid to escape which caught fire.

“He then ran out into Kingston Road and seemed to collapse in front of the footpath. Members of the public tried to assist in extinguishing the flames.”

The inquest also heard Mr Edwards was an on-off drug user who used heroin and crack cocaine – with his behaviour becoming increasingly erratic in the year before his death.

Mr Inyama added: “He had a history of schizoaffective disorder and drug use.

“He was way more chaotic in his behaviour. He was jumping out in front of moving vehicles and threatening aggression to others as well.”

Surrey Comet:

Churchgoers at St Paul's Church lit candles in remembrance following the accident

Mr Edwards was known to members of St Peter’s Church in Norbiton, and had previously stayed at the YMCA in Surbiton.

At the time of his death friends claimed that Mr Edwards’ mental health problems were ignored by the authorities and that “no one wanted to help him”.

School friend John Ridley had said: “He was put on a shelf to rot. That’s why he got into this mess. I saw him a couple of weeks ago and he said ‘They won’t house me, they won’t come near me’.

“He should have been in cared accommodation or sheltered accommodation.”

In April Kingston Council and South West London and St George’s Mental Health Trust, which runs Tolworth Hospital, launched an investigation into the death.

At the time a spokesman acting for Kingston Council and South West London and St George’s Mental Health Trust, said: "The council and South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust extend our deepest sympathies to family and friends at this distressing time.

"As with all cases of this nature, the trust will conduct an investigation into the case and will be liaising with other agencies, including Kingston’s housing team to conclude."

Surrey Comet:

Friends claimed at the time Mr Edwards was let down by authorities, prompting a council investigation

The Surrey Comet has asked about the progress of this investigation which was announced more than seven months ago.

The inquest concluded Mr Edwards died an accidental death.