Cheshire mum ‘took her own life’ after son’s death in fire

Kelly-Ann Carter with her son Lucas and partner Andy Hough

A devoted mother, 35, took her own life because she never forgave herself for the death of her eight-year-old boy in a house fire, an inquest heard today. 

Kelly Carter, 35, from Cheshire, attempted to rescue son Lucas when when the deadly blaze broke out at their family home – but she was beaten back by the force of the flames.

Just two weeks later, whilst in a state of anger at being being unable to save her child whom she called ‘her world and her best’, Miss Carter drank brandy then hanged herself at the home of boyfriend Andrew Hough whilst he was asleep in bed.

The hearing was told fire had broken out at 7pm on October 29 last year just six months after Miss Carter and her son described as a ‘handsome and kind boy’ moved into the semi detached property in Sandbach.

Firefighters called to the scene found Miss Carter outside the property with serious burns and found Lucas upstairs in his bedroom. Both were taken to Leighton Hospital, Crewe – but the youngster died from his injuries at 5am the following morning.

Miss Carter was treated for her burns and was later discharged but was said to be guilt stricken over her son’s death. Best friend Sarah Blakey told the Crewe inquest: ‘She didn’t want to be here without Lucas.

‘She couldn’t forgive herself and didn’t want to be here without him. He was her world, he was her best. To her he was her greatest achievement and he was an absolute credit, a lovely little boy.’

She added: ‘Kelly was discharged from hospital on November 9 and I had seen her alternate days. Due to the fire there were boxes and boxes of clothes. I needed to help her get an outfit for her to see Lucas.

‘She didn’t want to be here and the first time I saw her she was very up and down, very angry. She didn’t have the right medication that she should have had. She was begging for more.

‘I spent some time with her on the night before she died and I got round there about 5-5:30pm I left at half time, the England football team were playing. When I turned up Andy was downstairs but didn’t seems to have anything to do with Kelly. He had his coat on, he wouldn’t put the heating on and I had a brief word with him downstairs.

Kelly Carter, 35, from Cheshire, attempted to rescue son Lucas when when the deadly blaze broke out at their family home – but she was beaten back by the force of the flames

Just two weeks later, whilst in a state of anger at being being unable to save her child whom she called ‘her world and her best’, Miss Carter drank brandy then hanged herself at the home of boyfriend Andrew Hough whilst he was asleep in bed

The hearing was told fire had broken out at 7pm on October 29 last year just six months after Miss Carter and her son described as a ‘handsome and kind boy’ moved into the semi detached property in Sandbach

‘I noticed a dressing down cord which knots in it. My mum did the same as Kelly and she said she was not going to do anything until after Lucas’ funeral. She was drinking brandy and she requested that she wanted some more pain relief because she said she needed it. She was in pain.

‘In terms of the dressing gown I knew if I would have taken the dressing gown cord off her she would have lost it with me I tried to take it smoothly but she kept hold of the dressing gown and put it on. 

‘She said previously she was going to do the same as my mum but not until after Lucas’ funeral.

Firefighters called to the scene found Miss Carter outside the property with serious burns and found Lucas upstairs in his bedroom

‘I didn’t think she was going to do anything that night. I spent a couple of hours trying to get her more medication. Two nurses went to see her and said she didn’t need anymore. I tried to get her the pain relief when I got back they had been but didn’t give her anything. She was a bit upset with me.

‘Then she wanted something to eat so I helped her put a lasagne in. She was calmer then, she was angry when I first got there. Lucas was buried on the 18 November and Kelly’s funeral was the following Friday.’

In a statement to police Mr Hough, a 33 year old site manager said: ‘I went to bed at 12:30 after Kelly and I had both been watching TV.

‘Sarah came around and both her and Kelly went upstairs and I carried on watching TV.

‘Sarah left at around 11pm and I went to bed. Kelly was still watching TV. I came downstairs at 5am and she was asleep on the sofa. I woke her up and told her to come to bed and went back to bed. At 9:36am I went downstairs and as I got to the bottom step I saw Kelly. I phoned my mum and Kelly’s sister Gemma.’

PC Ham said: ‘The information I was given was that there had been an incident where Kelly’s child had been involved in a fire and passed away and Mr Hough thought the reason behind the hanging was something to do with that.

‘He had come down in the morning to find her hanged against the bannister of the staircase. The overall view was that we didn’t believe there was any suspicious circumstances or third party involvement because of the fact that she lost a loved one earlier on and it was too much for her.

‘The only marks I could recall were bandages on her arms covering burns from the fire previously.’

Firefighters called to the scene found Miss Carter outside the property with serious burns and found Lucas upstairs in his bedroom

Miss Carter was treated for her burns and was later discharged but was said to be guilt stricken over her son’s death. Best friend Sarah Blakey told the Crewe inquest: ‘She didn’t want to be here without Lucas’

Det Sgt Richard Bolton of Cheshire Police said: ‘On my arrival everyone was in the front room working on Kelly-Anne Carter. Officers were in attendance assisting. Andrew Hough was in a very distressed state. 

‘Kelly was lying on her back and I was informed there was no response but they were going to keep resuscitation going. The doctor attempted to place a tube into her throat but was unable to do so.

‘The doctor verified Kelly was deceased at 10:27am. I allowed Andrew Hough and Gemma Carter to stay in the house due to the sensitive nature as Kelly’s son had previously died in a fire.

At the time of the tragedy Miss Carter’s cousin Peter Kent said: ‘Kelly was a loving and exemplary mum to Lucas. She was bringing him up as a beautiful caring young man.’

Kelly-Ann Carter who hanged herself just two weeks after she was forced to watch son Lucas die in a fire at the family home in Sandbach

‘Both of them were popular and outgoing, with a wide circle of friends. Literally hundreds of people have shared the shock of recent events. We are not a large family and this has come as a devastating tragedy, so we would like to thank everyone for their sympathy and condolences.

‘Kelly was extremely close to her sister Gemma. Our hearts go out to her, her partner Daniel, and to Kelly’s partner Andy who was utterly devoted to her and to Lucas.’

In a statement, staff at Offley Primary School where Lucas was a pupil said teachers, children and parents were in a state of ‘profound shock’ and added: ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and partner Andy. 

‘Lucas died in tragic circumstances and the fact Kelly has also died makes this so much harder to bear for the family and all who knew them.’

Investigations into the fire are ongoing and the cause is currently unknown.. The Independent Police Complaints Commission have been probing claims officers were called to the house three hours before the blaze broke out.

The inquest continues. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk