'Too much smoke' for fire victim

Mr Hughes jumped from a third-floor window after trying to save his mother

A man who jumped from a burning hotel was unable to survive because he had taken in too much smoke and gases, an inquest in Cornwall has heard.

Peter Hughes, his mother Monica, 86, and Joan Harper, 80, died in the fire at Newquay's Penhallow Hotel in 2007.

Pathologist Dr Deborah Cook told the inquest at Truro Crown Court Mr Hughes, 43, had breathed in enough smoke and gases to do "irreversible damage".

He died shortly after being taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.

Paramedics had described Mr Hughes' condition as "stable and not life-threatening" shortly after he jumped.

There was nothing the paramedics, ambulance crew or doctors could do to save him Dr Deborah Cook, pathologist

He had even been well enough to thank them as he was taken to an ambulance, the inquest was told, but had died about an hour-and-a-half later in hospital.

"There was nothing the paramedics, ambulance crew or doctors could do to save him," Dr Cook told the inquest.

The fire, which completely gutted the hotel, started about midnight on 18 August 2007.

The hotel blaze was the worst in the UK for nearly 40 years

Mr Hughes, a teacher from Cheslyn Hay, Staffordshire, jumped from the third floor of the 54-bedroom hotel after trying in vain to save his mother.

More than 100 firefighters fought the blaze, which was described as the worst in the UK for nearly 40 years. About 90 people escaped.

Four people were arrested after police said the fire had been started deliberately and launched a murder investigation.

All were later released, but the case remains open.

The inquest continues.