Assistant coroner writes to council over death of elderly couple

CROYDON Council has been singled out over the deaths of an elderly couple that perished in a South London house fire.

- By CALLUM CUDDEFORD

Caroline and Bernard Cleall, both in their 70s, died from smoke inhalation after their detached house in Windemere Road, in Addiscombe, went up in flames at around 8pm on January 5, 2022. Despite pressing a panic button, the operator did not hear the blaring smoke alarm.

When MyLondon reported from the tragic scene in 2022, one neighbour said they could smell something ‘electrical’ but had not heard anything. Another neighbour described the Clealls as ‘a kind old couple’, adding that the incident was ‘very sad’. At the time, a family member also confirmed the couple's dog had died.