Mother Dies in House Fire as Husband Makes Desperate Roof Rescue Attempt

(Kate Mulcahy. Photo by Yokeshire Live)

A mother of four died in a fierce house fire while her husband made a desperate bid to rescue her by climbing a drainpipe, an inquest was told.

Kate Mulcahy, 37, was found dead after the blaze engulfed her family home at Ramsden Farm in Middleton, Manchester in November 2024.

The court heard that Mrs Mulcahy had been at a friend's baby shower and arrived home around 1.30am on November 10.

Her husband John woke to the smoke alarm at 3.51am.

He quickly got their twin sons and two daughters out of the house to safety at a neighbour's place, then tried desperately to reach his wife.

Finding the top-floor attic room blocked from inside, Mr Mulcahy climbed up the outside of the house on a drainpipe.

He smashed a skylight and ripped away roof tiles trying to get to her, but the heat forced him back.

A neighbour, Tim Ainsworth, said he heard loud bangs and the family dog barking before Mr Mulcahy arrived at his door in panic, screaming and dropping off the children.

Ainsworth tried to enter the house but was beaten back by what he described as a wall of fire, realising no one inside could have survived.

Firefighters found Mrs Mulcahy's body in the attic room where the fire is believed to have started.

A post mortem showed she died from severe burns and smoke inhalation.

Experts said she likely lost consciousness quickly and didn't suffer a prolonged death.

Forensic investigators believed the loud bangs came from roof windows failing.

They suggested open doors created a "chimney effect" that drew oxygen in and fed the flames.

While the fire started in the attic room, investigators couldn't determine the exact cause because the entire room was consumed by flames.

Police found no evidence of anything suspicious or criminal involvement.

The coroner ruled her death accidental, saying the circumstances had been thoroughly investigated but that the exact sequence of events remained unclear.