Pensioner killed in gas heater blaze

AN 86-year-old woman burned to death on New Year’s Eve when the gas heater she was using to keep warm burst into flames in her home.

The flames destroyed everything in Kleoniki Georgiou’s home in Korfi, in the Limassol district, except for a large wooden cross, which somehow survived the high temperatures.

The incident took place at 8am when thick, black smoke was seen coming out of the back of her small flat, where she had been living for the past several years on her own, at the back of her daughter’s house.

The Fire Services were immediately called by neighbours who, along with several relatives, tried to tackle the blaze.

A fireman discovered Georgiou’s charred body close to the front door. It appears she had woken up due to the smoke and had tried in vain to make it outside.

A wad of ten-pound notes was discovered on her, which she was apparently planning to give to her grandchildren as a New Year present.

According to the preliminary Fire Service investigation, the blaze started when clothes next to the gas heater overheated and burst into flames. They had apparently been placed too close to the heater.

Georgiou was described as a, “nice and loveable woman” by village residents.

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