A FAMILY christening ended in tragedy after a young man died in a blaze described by a firefighter as one of the worst he had witnessed in 27 years of service.

Craig Westhorp, 20, was killed in the fire that engulfed his home after his brother, Reece, heated a chip pan on a gas hob before falling asleep.

Twenty-three firefighters were beaten back by the flames as temperatures reached 1,000C.

Following the celebrations, Craig Westhorp went to sleep in his bedroom after returning at 3am, on Monday, May 30, the inquest heard yesterday.

When Reece Westhorp, 17, got in at 4.30am, he put on a chip pan before heading upstairs and falling asleep, coroner Malcolm Donnelly said.

Their stepfather, Andrew Sutherland, who had not been drinking, said he woke to sounds of “popping” at about 5am as the fire ripped through the house in Formby Close, Hartlepool.

He managed to get Reece Westhorp outside but said the intensity of the flames meant he was unable to go back inside.

However, realising his brother was still inside, Reece Westhorp went back up to his bedroom.

“He felt around for Craig but could not find him, he tried to open windows but couldn’t and went back outside as he could not breathe,”

Mr Donnelly said.

Craig Westhorp’s body was discovered on the upstairs landing by firefighters.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Donnelly added: “That a happy family event should end in tragedy is a lesson to us all.”

Kevin Readhead, Cleveland Fire Brigade officer in charge of the incident, said no smoke alarms had been fitted to the home.

“In 27 years I have only seen two house fires of this severity before. Despite the best efforts of our officers, we could not initially get in due to the severity, it was so well developed.”

Speaking after the Hartlepool inquest, he said: “Nobody believes it’s going to happen to them, nobody believes they’re going to have a fire but, unfortunately, this family did suffer that. Our thoughts and condolences are with them.”