Northern Ireland

Gerry Anderson show regular Geordie Tuft had suffered burns from pouring cooking oil on fire before his death, inquest hears

Geordie Tuft, a regular contributor to BBC Radio Ulster's Gerry Anderson show, died in a house fire at his home in Loughbrickland. Picture by Pacemaker Belfast
Geordie Tuft, a regular contributor to BBC Radio Ulster's Gerry Anderson show, died in a house fire at his home in Loughbrickland. Picture by Pacemaker Belfast Geordie Tuft, a regular contributor to BBC Radio Ulster's Gerry Anderson show, died in a house fire at his home in Loughbrickland. Picture by Pacemaker Belfast

BROADCAST personality Geordie Tuft sprayed cooking oil on his open fire to help it light, a witness at his fire death inquest said.

Mr Tuft (77), from Co Down, had attended hospital emergency departments in the past after setting himself alight.

He died from probable burns in the accidental blaze in March this year, the coroner said on Monday.

The farmer became a regular on the late Gerry Anderson's BBC Radio Ulster programme with his pseudo-medical "cures" for a range of ailments which usually involved a liberal dose of country wisdom.

The fiercely independent former council worker refused offers of help from doctors and social services despite living on his own and falling several times.

"He was so independent it appears to me he mistook people's genuine concerns for him as fussing, with the result that he seems to have refused all offers of help," Coroner Patrick McGurgan said:

He said it was vital smoke detectors were installed and working.

The fire service had fitted alarms at his dilapidated thatched cottage near Loughbrickland after a previous fire but noticed later he had removed them and again replaced them, retired officer Roy Crozier said.

Mr Tuft, who was divorced and with a son, died at his house on the Legananny Road. His friend John Walker had just left the house after bringing him fire wood and some food.

He went to get more supplies, but by the time he returned the fire service was already in attendance.

When crews extinguished the blaze they found him half-lying on a charred bed in his bedroom, his body badly burned from the flames.

Mr Tuft regularly used cooking oil to help light his open fire in the living room, Mr Walker said. He suffered bad burns to his legs in 2012 and less serious harm the following year when his trouser leg caught fire. He smoked 30 cigarettes a day, his doctor said.

GP Karen Deans said Mr Tuft drank a half bottle of whiskey a day.

Dr Deans said: "The house was ill-maintained and there were concerns from friends and medical staff that he needed help but he refused that. He attended his GP very infrequently."

He refused the input of social workers.

The medic added: "He felt social workers were fussing over him unnecessarily. He was able to convince them that he was capable of managing without help."

Mr Walker visited every week and brought him in his car to do his shopping. Mr Tuft did not drive.

He admitted: "He relied on me all the time."

His friend spent a couple of hours a week with him, saying: "I miss him. He depended on me for everything."

He recalled leaving his house for the last time.

"Geordie followed me out of the kitchen to the hall. He called to me: 'Hey boy, don't be long till you are back,' and those were the last words I heard."