'Kind' Nottingham man's 'heroic' actions moments before death in Carrington fire

A Nottingham man's "heroic" actions in the minutes before his death have been commended as an investigation into a house fire has concluded. Daniel Roger Hunt, a senior fine art lecturer at the University of Lincoln, died aged 47 on December 1, 2023, during a house fire at his address on Watcombe Circus, Carrington.

An inquest into Mr Hunt's death concluded yesterday (Thursday, November 14) at Nottingham Coroner's Court, where the cause of the fire was established as accidental and as a likely result of cooking. The court heard how a fire started in the oven area of the flat's kitchen, located on the lower floor of the property, with "thick, black" smoke extending throughout the property.

Also inside the flat was Mr Hunt's wife and partner of 23 years, Antonia Zenkevitch-Hunt, a disabled wheelchair user who was on the upper floor of the flat when the incident occurred. As the thick smoke engulfed the property, Mrs Zenkevitch-Hunt kept calling Mr Hunt's name, telling him to "follow my voice, love" as he was looking for a fire extinguisher.

Mrs Zenkevitch-Hunt told the hearing how her furniture was melting into an opaque wall of smoke, which was "as breathable as a black wall". After Mr Hunt stopped responding to her calls, Mrs Zenkevitch-Hunt decided to jump out the window as she realised that was her only way to escape death, hoping Mr Hunt had done the same.

The inquest heard, however, that fire crews found Mr Hunt's body in the same room from which Mrs Zenkevitch-Hunt jumped to save her life. Due to the thickness of the smoke, the couple were unaware they were in the same room.

Paying tribute to her husband, Mrs Zenkevitch-Hunt said: "Dan was kind and funny. We spent a lot of time playing and improvising together. He was a dedicated educator and a senior lecturer in arts. He was a dedicated husband, uncle, brother and friend.

"He was creative and brilliant and utterly chaotic. The local shopkeeper said every time the doorbell went at 5pm in the shop, he would look up expecting Dan. He was impossible not to get annoyed with and impossible not to love."

Leigh Holmes, station manager at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and author of the fire investigation report, told the court the call to emergency services was made at 7.22pm, with the first fire engine arriving at 7.29pm. Mr Holmes added that the expected response time is eight minutes and that it appeared Mr Hunt was trying to make his way to Mrs Zenkevitch-Hunt.

Mrs Zenkevitch-Hunt explained that her husband had been diagnosed with ADHD and that he was, at the time of the fire, being tested for ASD (Autism spectrum disorder). She added that because of this, the couple were each other's carers and that, because she was unable to assist him find the fire extinguisher, he likely panicked in the smoke.

Coroner Fiona Gingell said: "It's clear to me that given the significant fire and smoke, it's likely that Antonia would have been in significant danger of losing her life had she stayed. But it's clearly an extremely difficult decision that's been taken in those horrific circumstances.

"I accept the opinion of the fire investigator that the cause of the fire was accidental and it's most likely that Dan started the fire while cooking. I would like to offer my personal and sincere condolences. It's clear to me that Dan was a loving husband and he's greatly missed by you [Antonia] and all those who knew him.

"I can see that he was well-liked and regarded also within the wider community and that he was a true inspiration to his students and his colleagues in a professional role. I echo that Dan's actions that day appeared to be extremely heroic, wanting to fight the fire and ultimately protect his wife. I also commend the fire crews for their efforts and actions, along with the police."

Detective constable Nicola Bingham-Ward, of Nottinghamshire Police, said she is satisfied no third party involvement or suspicious circumstances surrounded the death. Dozens of students from the University of Lincoln paid tribute to their beloved lecturer in a book of condolences.

One said: "Dan, you were the best thing about coming to university. You got me to lectures and inspired me to learn and take myself seriously. You were so loved. We miss you."

Another added: "Dan, I feel so blessed to have been able to have been taught by you. You taught me so much and made every idea I had feel like something incredible. I will carry everything you taught me throughout my practice and my life. You will be missed tremendously."

A tribute from the university reads: "We are profoundly saddened to hear of the passing of Daniel Hunt, Senior Lecturer in Fine Art. Dan was a passionate teacher, a fierce champion of the arts, a talented artist, a valued colleague and a dear friend. In his 16 years at the University of Lincoln Dan has shaped the creative and critical practice of thousands of students, all of whom were enriched and transformed by their work with him.

"Loved by colleagues and students alike, Dan will be missed enormously by the University community, and especially his close colleagues in the School of Creative Arts. The thoughts and condolences of all the University of Lincoln community go to his friends and family."