Elderly carer dies as blaze rips through sick brother’s Leeds home

The victim, who has not 
been formally identified 
but was named locally as 
Joyce Williams, lost her life as the blaze ravaged the terrace property on Westbourne Place, in Beeston, Leeds, on Saturday night.

It is understood the house belonged to her brother, Donald Kinghorn, who is thought to have been in hospital when the incident happened.

Ms Williams, who is believed to have been in her eighties, lived in her own house two doors away on the same street but spent much of her time looking after Mr Kinghorn at his home.

Neighbours kicked the front door through shortly before midnight but were unable to get into the house.

By the time firefighters arrived it is thought the fire may already have been alight for several hours and Ms Williams was found dead inside.

Neighbour Sarah Mellor, 36, said she had been friends with Ms Williams since moving to the street three years ago.

“She was like a grandma to me,” she said. “She was very quiet, but she was always really polite and really lovely. I haven’t slept. I’m absolutely devastated.”

The fire is still being investigated, but is not being treated as suspicious.

In another incident, five people were taken to hospital after a fire at their home in Ramshead Gardens, Seacroft, Leeds, yesterday morning.