A MAN has died of organ failure after a devastating fire tore through his house.

Widower Michael Boulton, 81, passed away in Southend Hospital following the huge blaze at his semi-detached home in Arundel Gardens, Westcliff, earlier this month.

Heartbroken son, Paul Boulton, known as Billy, told the Echo how he returned home from a weekend away to discover his dad had been badly burnt.

Michael had severe external and internal injuries, and had suffered severe smoke inhalation.

Billy and his family, including wife Sarah, 39, and her two sons, had been living at the Arundel Gardens house following the death of his mother Marion, 84.

They were confronted with scenes of carnage after returning from a weekend in Norfolk on Sunday, October 4.

Billy, 40, said: “We had been away to see Sarah’s mum and dad. I called dad at 3pm to say we were on our way and, depending on traffic, we would be a couple of hours. He was bright and alert.

“We casually rolled into town to go to the shops and went past Leigh fire station, and past Kenilworth Gardens, and saw the road was closed. We parked up and started walking up the road and slowly realised it was our house that was at the centre of everything.

“It’s all a bit vague from then on.”

He now wants to warn others, as the fire is believed to have been started by a match his father used to light his pipe.

Billy said: “If anyone can be encouraged to be more careful by this, it would help, because it could have been so much worse. It was so close to spreading next door and they have children who sleep upstairs.

“We’re so incredibly grateful to everyone who tried to save dad, it’s actually really hard to describe just how grateful we are.

“The fire crew pulled him out after one of the neighbours attempted to save him. It became too dangerous for a normal person to go in by that point, but they really did try.

Echo: Billy and Sarah Boulton outside his father's house, where there was a fire which claimed his life earlier this month

“The police who looked after us that night were amazing and so caring. What happened was so shocking, I can’t put it into words.We were overwhelmed by how many people did everything they could to give dad the best chance in hospital.”

Michael never regained consciousness following the fire, and died four days later.