A WOMAN in her 70s has died after fumes filled her Ipswich house.

Annette Coe, the mother of William Coe, who runs the Coes stores in Suffolk and Essex, died yesterday at Ipswich Hospital.

Mrs Coe was left in a critical condition when smoke filled her home in St Edmunds Road on Wednesday night.

Paying tribute to her, Mrs Coe’s family said in a statement: “The family are devastated by the tragic loss of Annette. She was a selfless individual who supported her family, church, the family business and community wholeheartedly. She leaves a huge hole in all our lives.”

Paramedics requested help from Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service after responding to a 999 call and finding the house filled with smoke.

Following the incident, Suffolk Fire and Rescue posted on their Facebook site: “Crews were mobilised and the first crew from Princes Street booked in attendance at 11:36pm to find the house lightly smoke logged. On arrival the casualty was out of the property and receiving treatment from the paramedics and from the fire service.

“Crews located the source of the incident as being smoke fumes from an oil heater which was external to the property.”

Fire crews said they isolated the gas and heating supplies to the house to make the scene safe.

Mrs Coe was taken to Ipswich Hospital for further treatment, but died on Thursday.

Police, fire and the Health and Safety Executive will be carrying out an investigation to establish the cause of death and a cordon remains up at the scene.

The Coroner has been informed and a post mortem examination is due to take place tomorrow.