Gas fire tragedy of dad Paul Lee, 41
A FATHER-of-three died after a gas fire malfunctioned and released carbon monoxide while he slept in a flat above his pub.
Paul Lee, 41, a manager at the Aintree Hotel, Aintree Road, Bootle, had been sleeping in the flat because he couldn't find his keys to his own home in Walton.
He was found slumped against the door of his room by relief manager Sharon Owen on the afternoon of November 12 last year, just a month after taking over the tenancy of the pub.
Ms Owen said the gas fire in the room was still on and she was struck by the heat when she entered the room.
The inquest at Liverpool coroners court hear Mr Lee died of carbon monoxide poisoning in Fazakerley hospital in the early hours next day.
Mr Lee, of Ireton Street, Walton, had leased the pub from Enterprise Inns Plc just a month before his death and had been decorating it and hoping to turn it into a bed and breakfast.
There were no safety checks carried out on the gas fire and there was no gas certificate.
The Health and Safety Executive found that the gas fire was producing significant levels of carbon monoxide and the chimney and the back of the fire were blocked by debris and soot, preventing the gas from escaping.
Enterprise Inns admitted issuing a tenancy-at-will agreement to Mr Lee with the knowledge that there was no gas certificate. It was not the company's responsibility to ensure gas safety checks due to a loophole in the law.
The company has now changed its procedure and will not issue tenancy agreements without a valid gas certificate.
Mr Lee had worked in the pub business since the age of 18 when he got his first job as a barman.
He had been married to Julie Teare, 40, a youth worker of Hampden Street, Walton, although the couple were separated, and they had a 13-year-old daughter, Jody Lee.
Ms Teare said: "He was just happy go lucky and warm to everyone. He was known throughout the area and a popular person.
"His daughter meant the world to him and she has a little memorial table to help remember him."
Barmaid Ann Burns said: "He was a likeable person who cared for his staff."
A jury returned a verdict of accidental death.
claire.ellicott@liverpool.com
Fazakerley
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