Mum, 46, died when her hair extensions caught on fire after she lit a cigarette

A woman died aged 46 from severe burns after her synthetic hair extensions caught fire.

The tragic death took place in Tantobie, near Stanley, County Durham, last October.

Tracy Ann Gardiner was found in her bedroom and was pronounced dead at the scene by a paramedic from North East Ambulance Service.

The alarm was raised at around 9.15am on the day of her death.

Many passers-by attempted bravely to rescue Tracy Ann, but were left unable to reach her due to noxious fumes.

Tracy Ann Gardiner was a mother-of-two. (NNP)

Local man Stuart Tinnion recalled: "I looked up and saw black smoke billowing out of the upstairs window."I brayed on the front door with my fists as hard as I could to try to alert anyone inside however nobody came to the door."

He then called 999 and raised the alarm with neighbours.

David Bennett, who saw the commotion from the street, also tried to help, saying: "I could see smoke at the upstairs window.

"I knocked loudly on the downstairs window and got no response. I ran through the cut and entered the back gate."

Mr Tinnion returned after raising the alarm and also ran around the back of Tracy Ann's property in a bid to help.

He said: "I thought if there was half a chance of getting them out, I was going to try my best. I got halfway to three-quarters of the way up the stairs.

"All I could see was dense thick black smoke.

"I was unable to see my hand in front of my face so I thought for my own safety I should get out."

An inquest into her death has taken place. (NNP)

During the inquest, Crook Coroners' Court have been told that Tracy Ann suffered from a long-standing battle with alcoholism and tests showed she was 'severely intoxicated' at the time.

Home Office Pathologist Sam Hoggard examined Tracy Ann's body, with the cause of death was recorded as 'effects of fire and acute alcohol intoxication'.

So severe were Tracy Ann's burns that her body was identified using DNA samples that matched her father, the inquest said.

Durham Constabulary asserted there are no suspicious circumstances or third-party involvement.

Head of fire investigation at County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, Craig Jewkes, said firefighters found 'patches of smaller fires' downstairs in Tracy Ann's home.

"Tracy lit a cigarette, possibly at or around the kitchen table, it has unfortunately caught on part of her wig or synthetic hair and she has moved away into the hall.

"The hair has stopped burning in the sense that it was no longer dripping on the floor but it has dripped onto her clothing.

Firefighters found 'patches of smaller fires' in her home. (Getty stock images)

"The burning synthetic hair has dropped into her clothing. We found no drop marks on the way up the stairs but did find it in her clothes.

"That is the only cause we can identify it directly."

Ultimately, Rebecca Sutton, Assistant Coroner recorded a verdict of 'misadventure'.

She stated: "The fire investigator believes, and I accept his evidence, that it is likely that the fire in the kitchen was started by a cigarette setting fire to Tracey's synthetic hair.

"The molten synthetic hair has dripped into the clothing and started to burn and she went upstairs with her clothes still burning or smouldering.

"The burning or smouldering clothes came into contact with the bed material which then fire and the significant fire developed on the bed."

An anonymous neighbour said the situation was 'absolutely terrible', adding: "She didn't deserve to die like that."