Advertisement

Suspected Burglar Dies In Chimney After Fire Lit

Suspected Burglar Dies In Chimney After Fire Lit

A suspected burglar who tried to enter a house through the chimney has died after the homeowner lit a fire without realising the man was inside.

The man appeared to have climbed into the chimney of the house in Huron, California, during the night while the owner was away and then became stuck, according to the Fresno County Sheriff's Office.

The homeowner lit a fire in his fireplace on Saturday afternoon but then heard a man yelling inside the chimney as the house filled with smoke, the sheriff's office said.

He tried to extinguish the flames but firefighters who dismantled the chimney during a rescue effort found the suspect dead inside.

The deceased man was named by a coroner as Cody Caldwell, aged 19.

The cause of his death was as a result of smoke inhalation and burns.