A "caring and gentle" grandfather of nine died after setting fire to his clothes just one day after being discharged from hospital. Thomas Norton, 62, was released from Liverpool Royal Hospital on December 11, 2024, and the following day, his 62nd birthday, he set fire to his clothes at his home on Bramcote Road in Kirkby.
Emergency Response and Death
Emergency services arrived at the scene around 11:35 pm on December 12, 2024. Firefighters found that the fire at the semi-detached bungalow had already been extinguished. First aid and oxygen were administered to Norton before he was taken to Whiston Hospital, where he died from his injuries on December 13.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) initially believed the death was accidental, likely caused by the vapour from lighter fluid igniting and setting fire to his clothes.
Family Tribute and Concerns
Following a pre-inquest review at Bootle Town Hall on July 9, 2025, Norton's family paid tribute. In a statement to the ECHO, they said: "Our dad was kind, caring and gentle. He was always there for advice and would listen to anyone's problems. He wanted the best for everyone. He loved watching Liverpool play and celebrate their wins with a glass of whisky."
"He was the best dad and grandad and would have done absolutely anything for his grandchildren who all miss him more than anything in the world. He lived for his lifelong partner Lin who is struggling to navigate life without him."
"People are asked to describe someone as a person but that's so difficult; he was just our Dad and we took that for granted. I just hope that he left us knowing how much we loved him."
The family also raised concerns about the care Norton received, as he is believed to have had delirium at the time of his death. They said: "Our dad's death has left a massive hole in our family. Knowing we had time left with him and this has been taken away from us in such tragic circumstances has left us all broken and searching for answers."
"The last few months of dad's life should have been enjoying every day and enjoying every last moment together, however we were not given that chance; it was spent fighting for the care he deserved. Care that should come as standard within our NHS. We hope we can get the answers we need to have closure and allow us to grieve our dad as we should and hope that this is never allowed to happen to anyone else."
Inquest Details
The hearing at Bootle Town Hall heard that the hospital failed to notify the safeguarding team when Norton was discharged, although it is not believed this would have impacted his death. An inquest into his death is scheduled for October 20 at Bootle Town Hall, where statements from several healthcare officials will be heard.
Speaking at the time of the incident, Ged Knock, Group Manager for Prevention at MFRS, said: "This is a devastating incident, and our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of the person involved. The investigation indicates that the fire started in the kitchen and was likely caused accidentally by smoker’s materials."
"We would advise anyone who does smoke to do so carefully. Take care if filling lighters as the fluid is highly flammable and vapour from it can ignite very easily. Ensure cigarettes are properly extinguished in a heavy ashtray and please never smoke in bed or when sleepy. If possible, smoke outside or try to give up smoking altogether. Please ensure you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home and check them regularly. If you hear a smoke alarm sounding, dial 999, every second can make a difference."
