Firefighter's death 'accidental'

Bob Miller fell through the floor of a disused factory

An inquest into the death of a firefighter who fell through the floor of a disused factory has recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Bob Miller, 44, died while tackling the fire at a factory on Moorledge Street in Leicester in October 2002.

The jury at the inquest heard the fire was probably started by drug users in the factory basement trying to keep warm.

They heard evidence from firefighter Terry Stratford who said they had entered the first floor room of the building in Leicester city centre on Halloween evening.

Loud crash

He told Mr Miller there was a hole in the floor - and Mr Miller acknowledged him.

Mr Stratford pointed his torch at the floor and again Mr Miller acknowledged him.

He then heard a loud crash and realised Mr Miller had fallen 25 feet through the floor.

Mr Miller was carried out of the building by his colleagues, having suffered multiple fractures, but was pronounced dead at Leicester Royal Infirmary.

He was among 90 firefighters called to the factory fire just a fortnight before the first national firefighters' strike in 25 years.

The inquest jury of two women and five men took less than 10 minutes to return a verdict of accidental death.

Mr Miller, who had 26 years of experience and was a member of White Watch based at the city's Eastern Fire Station, became the first serving officer to die in the county's fire service since 1971.