A DISABLED man suffered burns when he was lowered into scalding water after a carer failed to check the temperature, an inquest heard yesterday.

Trevor Morris could not move and could barely speak. He had no way of telling his carer that he was in agony after being lowered by hoist into the bath - and being left to soak for five minutes.

Teesside Coroner's Court heard how the 53-year-old cerebral palsy sufferer received life-threatening burns to his legs and feet.

Carer Matthew Smith had been working at Bupa Elmridge Nursing Home, in Middlesbrough, for two months when he failed to carry out routine procedures using a thermometer.

Despite later admitting to police that he noticed red markings around Mr Morris's legs, Mr Smith dressed the patient and failed to make an immediate report of the incident, on October 23, 2003.

Mr Morris spent the next six months in and out of hospital with subsequent pressure sores and died in April last year.

The hearing heard how an ambulance was not called until about five hours after the incident.

The victim was rushed to the James Cook University Hospital with 20 per cent burns, where his condition rapidly deteriorated.

He spent several days in intensive care and skin grafts had to be carried out.

Mr Morris recovered and the injuries healed well.

He was discharged from the hospital on December 11 and taken back to the home.

Alan Allport, a clinical nurse specialist at the home, told the hearing: "When he came back to the home, he was a different person. His personality changed."

Pathologist Mark Egan told the inquest how Mr Morris died as a result of bronchial pneumonia with a contributory clot on the lungs.

He said: "The findings of the post-mortem show that the scalds did not contribute to the death.

"In my opinion, that should be the case. But the medical evidence does not suggest that the scalds contributed to his death."

Coroner Mr Sheffield recorded an open verdict.

The hearing heard how Mr Smith was employed as a carer in August 2003, and had no previous experience.