Man burned to death after 'spontaneously combusting' with no explanation why

The coroner admitted that he could offer no explanation for what had happened

A Irish pensioner’s death was ruled as ‘spontaneous combustion’ – although, how it exactly happened left investigators scratching their heads.

Michael Faherty, 76, was found burnt to death at his home in Galway, Ireland, on December 22, 2010.

The inquest stated that at 3am, Faherty’s neighbor heard his fire alarm go off, leading him to go outside and see smoke bellowing from Faherty’s house – he then said he banged on the front door, however, received no response.

He then got the attention of another neighbor, before the police and fire department made their quick arrival to the scene.

The source of fire wasn't determined by the police or the fire department (Getty stock image)

The source of fire wasn’t determined by the police or the fire department (Getty stock image)

Investigating the scene, no accelerant was found and no signs of foul play were suspected, and the assistant chief fire officer, Gerry O’Malley, concluded that the fire in the fireplace was not the source of the ignition, according to Galway Beo at the time.

There was also no reports of anyone entering or leaving the home prior to the discovery of Faherty’s body, The Guardian reported.

Faherty’s organs was so badly damaged by the fire that the cause of death could not be determined, however, it was concluded that he did not die of heart failure, according to the coroner, Dr Ciaran McLoughlin.

During an inquest into the fire, Dr McLoughlin said that he was ‘left with the conclusion that this fits into the category of ‘spontaneous human combustion’, for which there is ‘no adequate explanation’, adding that this was the first time he’d ever returned such a verdict in his 25-year career, The Guardian says.

The idea of ‘spontaneous combustion’ has long plagued both fiction and history, with many questioning whether the phenomenon actually exists or not.

Coroner Dr. Ciaran McLoughlin (pictured) said he had never seen anything in his career (PETER MUHLY/AFP via Getty Images)

Coroner Dr. Ciaran McLoughlin (pictured) said he had never seen anything in his career (PETER MUHLY/AFP via Getty Images)

 

 

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