Paphos fire victim burned to death

The autopsy of an elderly woman who died in a house fire in Paphos showed she had suffered burns while trying to escape.

According to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), state forensic pathologist Eleni Antoniou issued her report on the 86-year-old Cypriot woman, who died from suffering third degree burns.

The finding, which was made available on Friday, contradicted earlier speculation that the victim might have possibly died of smoke inhalation. Instead, the post mortem showed full thickness burns that affected the deeper tissues in the woman's body.

On Thursday, a concerned citizen notified authorities that a woman was anxiously calling for help inside a house where smoke was seen coming out. Fire fighters and police officers who immediately rushed to scene, on Vasileos Constantinou Street, found an elderly woman unconscious on the bedroom floor with burns all over her body.

According to preliminary findings, an indoor portable kerosene heater had been found next to the fire victim’s bed, while officials are still investigating the exact causes of the fire.

Another female in the residence, described as the household maid, was reportedly in good health after she managed to exit the residence. Police said they have ruled out foul play.