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08:01 GMT, Saturday, 18 October 2008 09:01 UK

Walk to warn of chip pan dangers

Sean Bowers

The young daughters of a man who died in a chip pan fire have taken part in a sponsored walk in his memory.

The family of Sean Bowers, 24, from Penyffordd, in Flintshire, want to warn of the dangers of trying to cook after drinking alcohol.

He died in a blaze at his mother's house which started after he began cooking chips following a night out celebrating his brother's birthday.

His brother Gary had tried to save him but was beaten back by smoke.

Kirsty Garatt is the mother of Sean Bowers's two children six-year-old Sophie and Paige, aged five.

"The girls are now left without a father," she said.

"Drinking and cooking are not a good mix "
Kevin Roberts, North Wales Fire and Rescue

"We're doing this to highlight the dangers of drinking and cooking to help make sure it does not happen again to another family."

Kevin Roberts, from North Wales Fire and Rescue, said there were clear lessons to be learnt from the tragedy.

"Drinking and cooking are not a good mix and can have disastrous consequences.

"Countless fires are caused each year by people returning home from the pub and deciding to make chips or cook some other snack for themselves before going to bed, " he added.

The house after the fire

The walk on Saturday is taking place a few days after the anniversary of Sean Bower's death in October 2007.

At an inquest into his death in June this year, the coroner praised his brother Gary Bowers and step-father Tommy Rogers for risking their lives trying to reach him.

At the hearing, fire investigator Stephen Lambert said North Wales Fire and Rescue Service wanted old-fashioned chip pans banned and replaced with modern, thermostatically-controlled devices.



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Related to this story:
Praise for 'brave' rescue attempt (24 Jun 08 |  Wales )
Two die in separate house fires (15 Oct 07 |  South East Wales )

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North Wales Fire and Rescue Service
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