Skegness Magazine

Part of ‘worst tragedy week’

Source May 10th 1933

“I SAW MY MOTHER IN FLAMES.”

DAUGHTER’S STORY OF HORRIFYING EARLY MORNING DISCOVERY.

SKEGNESS WOMAN’S DEATH FROM SHOCK.

INQUEST REVEALS BRAVE EFFORTS TO AVERT A TRAGEDY.

A groan—a sudden scream—a daughter’s rush to be met with the horrifying sight of her invalid mother enveloped in flames—a terrible struggle to extinguish them, resulting in severe burns to the rescuer; such were the elements of drama in a real-life tragedy which was enacted at Skegness last Tuesday week, when Mrs. Martha Hill, of “The Yews,” Drummond Road, Skegness, was so severely burned that her death took place in the Skegness Cottage Hospital fifteen hours later.

The main facts connected with the tragedy were described in the last issue of the “Skegness News,” and the full story was related to Mr. W. S. Rainey, Deputy-Coroner for the Spilsby District, sitting without a jury, at an inquest held at the Skegness Petty Sessional Court House last Thursday morning.

A verdict of “Accidental Death” was returned.

The first witness was William Edward Hill, Joiner, 4, Tennyson Green, Skegness, who gave the customary evidence of identification. Deceased was his mother, and he last saw her alive about 10 p.m, on the previous Sunday, when she appeared in her usual state of health. She was 64 years of age, and the widow of the late Thomas Hill, of Skegness, who was a golf green-keeper at the time of his death.