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Tributes to man who drank lava lamp oil
Father-of-two struggled with alcohol problem
FRIENDS have paid tribute to a father-of-two who died after drinking the oil from a lava lamp.
Joseph Clarke, 50, drank the toxic oil before falling asleep on the sofa clutching a cigarette last December, St Pancras Coroner’s Court heard on Tuesday.
Fellow residents of Rosedale Court, Panmure Close, in Highbury, have described how they regularly watched Mr Clarke, an insurance broker battle against his alcohol addiction.
One friend who asked not to be named said: “I didn’t expect it to end this way. He was a lovely fellow. I don’t think he was aware of what was going on. It’s really sad. We were all shocked. Everyone knew he was a drinker. We used to see him in the street.
“I knew him for a few years. He was a nice man, harmless, quiet, it’s just unfortunate he had a drinking problem.”
She added: “He was an Arsenal fanatic. He was sad that the old stadium was going but thought the new one would be good for the fans.”
Firefighters were called to Mr Clarke’s flat after neighbours spotted smoke coming from the windows. He was found speaking incoherently, having burned his leg and was taken to the Whittington Hospital suffering from second-degree burns.
Watch manager Matthew Sale, from Holloway fire station, said: “A crew with breathing apparatus pulled him out suffering from smoke inhalation and burns. He was awake but very disoriented.
“He’d fallen asleep smoking and had set his duvet alight. He’d woken up and thrown it off him but he’d burned his leg.”
“There was a table with discarded smoking materials, alcohol bottles and the lava lamp beside him. We noticed it (the lamp) was open but didn’t think it was related.”
One family friend said: “One of the neighbours saw the flames we shouted him to come out. We thought he was alright. It was only later that I heard he wasn’t well.
“Our kids grew up together. What’s happened is very sad – him becoming an alcoholic.”
Although alive when brought to hospital, Mr Clarke’s condition continued to deteriorate and he died days later. Lava oil was found in his colon.
His wife Elaine said after the inquest: “If you have an alcohol problem, don’t let it take over your life. Don’t lose your family.”
Mrs Clarke, who has two sons Dean, 28, and Connor, 12, met her husband at an Islington youth project at the age of 15.
She said: “He was a great person. Unfortunately, the drink changed his life. He’d been drinking for 15 years and trying to get off it for 15 years. It was just an addiction.
“He was a loving, caring husband with a heart of gold and a great dad.”
Mrs Clarke, who doesn’t believe her husband meant to kill himself, added: “Joe sometimes used to do things to get attention after we separated. I don’t think he would have realised what might have happened. Joe used to get very drunk. He would pick up the first thing next to him.”
Verdict: Misadventure. |
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