THE death of a man engulfed in flames in a York underground sewage chamber was an accident, an inquest has ruled.

But the Health and Safety Executive is considering taking further action after a jury gave its verdict on the death of Dennis Latter, 61.

Mr Latter, who came from Nottingham, died in Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, more than two weeks after the accident at Huntington sewage pumping station on July 1, last year.

After three days of evidence and cross-examination the jury found Mr Latter was working in a confined space at the station. He was using an electrical grinder to remove corrosive bolts when a spark ignited a build-up of oxygen in the chamber.

A post-mortem examination found that Mr Latter, from Nottingham, died from multiple organ failure, caused by septicaemia, resulting from burn and blast injuries.

Mr Latter worked for Galliford Northern, which had been contracted by Yorkshire Water at the station. He and his colleague were working there without a formal permit.

Clive Thompson, operations foreman for Yorkshire Water, who was overseeing Huntington on the day of the incident, said in a statement read out to the court: "I was not aware that they were replacing valves. They would have needed a permit."

Robert Ibberson, HSE spokesman, said: "Someone should have done a risk assessment about working in that chamber."

After the inquest he said: "We will be considering the evidence and what action needs to be taken against the corporate duty holders."

Yorkshire Water declined to comment after the inquest.