A MAN and woman who lost their lives in a Windermere fireworks inferno at a wedding were not killed by the initial explosion, new evidence has revealed.

Mum-of-three Polly Connor, 46, and Andrew Coates, 41, lost their lives during the incident which took place in the grounds of Windermere lake shore mansion Larch Cottage, at Ecclerigg, on August 30 last year.

The two had been preparing for a fireworks display to mark the nuptials of property owner and Windermere insurance magnate John Simpson and his bride Nicole Rothwell, later that evening.

Yesterday, senior coroner for Cumbria, David Roberts, said medical reports now show both Mrs Connor and Mr Coates were still alive as black smoke engulfed the wooden outbuilding where they lay following the blast.

The news emerged during an official pre-inquest review into the deaths of the pair held at County Hall, in Kendal, almost a year to the day the tragedy unfolded.

Speaking at the review hearing yesterday, Mr Roberts said: “As for the medical cause of death, we now have the benefit of two expert reports and a final report from Dr Johnson that would appear to indicate that both the deceased were alive in the sense of being able to breath sufficient quantities of carbon monoxide to give rise to a high level found in their systems which would suggest being alive for a period of time after the fire had started.

“The implication of this being that they were somehow incapacitated at this point,” he added.

Mr Roberts now hopes to hear evidence from some 20 witnesses during a four-day hearing to be held in Kendal in late November or December.

The list includes family members of both Mrs Connor, who ran her own plumbing business, and construction firm owner Mr Coates.

Mr Simpson, who was a partner in the firm Stardust Fireworks with Mr Coates, will also give his account, along with Cumbria Fire Service crew manager Andrew Millray, who was among the first of the emergency services personnel to arrive at the scene.

A jury is to be assembled to advise on a verdict as the explosion has been classed as a notifiable incident.

Mrs Connor’s stepfather, Professor John Benson, said the lengthy wait for an inquest had been difficult for her family to bear and said: “The families have perhaps a greater sense of urgency than some of those that are less closely affected by this.

“I hope you are able to take this into account.”

But Mr Roberts added: “I am very conscious of that potential. The experience of trying to fix an inquest with a multiplicity of participants is always a headache.

“That’s not to say I am at all keen to leave this to December, but we have a number of things to get into place.”