Investigation and inquest
On 05 September 2023 I commenced an investigation into the death of Afolabi Oluwafemi OJERINDE aged 48. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 29 January 2025. The conclusion of the inquest was that:
The deceased, who suffered from a psychotic illness, attended an ████████ petrol station on 4th September 2023 where he was able to pay for and dispense petrol into a plastic water bottle. He then ignited the petrol and placed himself in the fire. The deceased died on 5th September 2023 at Wythenshawe Hospital from the effect of injuries sustained during the incident on 4th September 2023.
Circumstances of the death
The Deceased attended an ████████ petrol station. After paying at the pump with a credit/debit card, was able to dispense petrol into a plastic bottle (not a suitable portable container) ████████. It was confirmed in evidence that the petrol station is not continuously watched, and that for a person attending without a vehicle, an alarm would only be raised after ████████ minutes. Such control measures did not, therefore, have any bearing on the deceased being able to dispense petrol in contravention of Regulation 12 of the Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014.
The Deceased proceeded to ignite the petrol and place himself in the fire. He subsequently died of his injuries.
Coroner’s concerns
I am concerned about the safety of ████████ petrol stations and how they do not ensure compliance with Regulation 12 of the Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014.
When comparing this to ████████ petrol stations, ████████ ensuring that the individual is:
seeking to dispense petrol into a motor vehicle or motor boat; seeking to dispense petrol into a suitable portable container; over the age of 16.
The evidence at the Inquest from the companies that operated the site and provided security accepted that the guidance available for ████████ petrol stations do not and cannot ensure compliance with the 2014 Regulations.