ACCIDENT experts today warned of the dangers in the home following the death of a woman who was splashed by fat as she made an egg sandwhich.

An inquest heard that hot fat from the frying pan sprayed in the face of Ruth Bonner, causing reddening which the pensioner dismissed as nothing serious.

But within 18 hours she was admitted to hospital and a day later she was dead.

Mrs Bonner, of Peridot Close, Blackburn, developed septicaemia as a result of the burns.

One of her sons, Patrick, who she had been cooking lunch for at the time of the accident, said he had given his mother some antiseptic cream for her injuries.

He stayed with her until about 7pm, at which time she seemed fine.

"She said it felt a bit sore, she didn't say it was painful," said Patrick.

Later that evening, Mrs Bonner received her regular call from the warden of the semi-sheltered housing where she lived.

Pauline Duggan said that when she spoke to Mrs Bonner on the intercom she seemed fine.

"She did not even mention the incident or that she was feeling any after-effects," said Mrs Duggan, who raised the alarm after Mrs Bonner's buzzer went off in the early hours.

Mrs Bonner, who was blind in one eye and partially sighted in the other, was found outside her home in a confused state.

She was admitted to hospital but died as a result of blood poisoning caused by burns to the face.

Coroner Michael Singleton recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Speaking after the inquest public health consultant for the East Lancashire Health Authority Roberta Marshall said any infection is a risk with extensive burns.

She said: "In general terms, infection is a big, big worry at any burns unit.

"The skin acts as a barrier to keep out germs, although extensive burns can allow organisms to get into the bloodstream."

Roger Vincent, senior press officer for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said the case was 'highly unusual.'

He said: "This is a reminder that the home is the scene for most accidents in this country.

"About 12.8 million people go to hospital each year as a result and, sadly, about 4,000 people die.

"That is far more than on the roads and the kitchen is one of the most dangerous places overall.

"This is extremely unusual, but it does show that people need to take extreme care when cooking. Fat can splash up all over the place."