A MAN who died in a hotel blaze started by a cigarette would have been made groggy by high levels of epileptic medication.

Nigel Butterfield, 41, worked in the kitchens of the Majestic Hotel in Harrogate but died on May 5 when a fire started in the fifth floor room where he lived.

An inquest into his death concluded at Conyngham Hall in Knaresborough on Friday, November 18, when the jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

A post-mortem found he died from smoke inhalation, but a toxicology report also found high levels of one of the drugs Mr Butterfield took to control his epilepsy. The jury heard this would have made him drowsy and impaired his ability to deal with the fire.

The inquest had heard evidence that Mr Butterfield, who had worked and lived at the hotel for nearly 20 years, had been suffering increasing numbers of fits before his death.

The day before his death, Mr Butterfield had appeared pale and groggy. Hotel staff were aware this indicated he had suffered a fit and took him back to his room until he felt better.

Coroner Rob Turnbull summarised evidence from Jozef Sebe, known to staff as Dodie, who worked as a food and drink assistant at the hotel.

He had finished his shift at 4.55am and went back to his room next to Mr Butterfield’s. Ten minutes later the hotel alarms sounded and Mr Sebe began banging on room doors to vacate guests.

Mr Turnbull recounted to the jury how Mr Sebe had not had a response when he banged on Mr Butterfield’s room, but when he heard a noise inside he kicked the door down.

Mr Turnbull said: “He made three attempts to get into the room, but on each occasion he was beaten back by smoke.

“His glasses were blackened by smoke and eventually he had to give up.”

Mr Turnbull told the jury: “You may have been as impressed as I was by the courage of this young made and the attempts he made.”

Staff member Carrie Murphy, also tried to get near Nigel’s room but was beaten back by smoke.

Firefighters found evidence that the fire was started by a discarded cigarette. The low smouldering fire would not have triggered the room’s heat detector until it was disturbed and flames began.