Nephew of John Allen ‘desperate for answers’ following his death in bungalow blaze in Fuchsia Lane, Ipswich

John Allen, who died in a fire in Ipswich earlier this year (Image: Archant)

The inquest into the death of John Allen, a former pension administrator, opened yesterday – where assistant coroner Kevin McCarthy said the elderly man died from injuries sustained in the fire.

Mr McCarthy did not record any conclusions, as is customary at an opening.

The deadly blaze, which happened on March 30, destroyed part of Mr Allen’s house in Fuchsia Lane and is currently the subject of an ongoing police investigation.

Emergency services were called to Fuchsia Lane at around 1am, and firefighters recovered two men – Mr Allen and his husband Martin Hallowes – from the bungalow.

Mr Hallowes, who delivered meals on wheels to Mr Allen, was seriously injured in the fire but has since recovered.

Mr Allen is thought to have suffered a cardiac arrest and died at Ipswich Hospital in the early hours of the morning.

Speaking after the opening, Mr Allen’s nephew David Geaves said “several questions” surrounding the death of his uncle have been “left unanswered”.

He claimed Mr Allen suffered a fall in 2010, and subsequently spent time at Sidegate Lane Nursing Home in Ipswich, but returned home shortly after.

He said his uncle was living with dementia, and that he was concerned for Mr Allen’s welfare, so visited him frequently.

“I’m concerned that the investigation into my uncle’s death is confined to the events of the fire,” he added.

“In my opinion there have been several other failings relating to his care in the months before the fire which I do not wish to go unchallenged.”

The investigation is ongoing, a police spokeswoman confirmed last night.

A full inquest into Mr Allen’s death is expected to take place in September.