By Alan Quick
The inquest, at County Hall, Exeter, heard that Fred sustained severe burns in the accident at his Yeoford home, where he had been draining the tank of a camper van into a container after he had accidentally put fuel in the water tank, burning off the fuel in the gravel outside his garage.
During the incident, the fleece jacket Fred (84), was wearing caught fire and, it is believed that his clothes ignited through static electricity as he rubbed his hands on his clothing.
His wife, Sue Read, was near the scene watering plants in the garden and was able to put out the flames and call the emergency services shortly after 7pm.
A fire crew from Crediton was the first to arrive at the house at 7.25pm on Sunday, April 16, after she had led Fred into the house and wrapped him in a sheet.
While trying to put out the flames, Sue also sustained burns to her hand, eyebrows and hair.
Paramedics and an ambulance crew also attended.
Mr Saunders was treated at the scene before being taken by the Devon and Cornwall Police helicopter to Southmead Hospital at Bristol.
It was understood that he sustained 70 to 85 per cent burns to his body.
Mr Saunders passed away, with his family at his side, at about 3pm on Monday, April 17.
An investigation into the cause of the fire by Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service was unable to provide a conclusive answer to explain how Fred sustained his injuries.
It suggested, however, that a static charge in his clothing or a naked flame which could have been present within the stone chippings which Fred had been unaware of, may have ignited the bucket and spread to the clothes he was wearing.
George Setter, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service station manager, who was one of those who attended the incident, told the inquest: “We are unable to ascertain what he was doing, such as wiping his hands which could have generated static and it is possible for that static charge to ignite.”
He added: “I’m unable to say if anything else flammable was on his clothing, but I would suggest he had a lot of things on it.”
The cause of his death was confirmed as burns.
The coroner, Lydia Brown, said in conclusion: “Despite various hypotheses we are still not clear what had actually happened. The moment of this ignition was unwitnessed and even if it had been witnessed, we might not have been clear of the chain of events.”
Sue said that before the accident Fred had enjoyed a pleasant Easter Sunday at Hatherleigh Auto-Jumble and watching the Grand Prix racing on television before he started working on his camper van.
She was full of praise for all those who had helped Fred, including the firefighters, paramedics, ambulance staff, police and the nurses at the hospital.
Fred’s daughter Marion Aubry told the Crediton Courier in May: “The treatment my father received was second-to-none. I cannot praise the hospital staff enough.
“They ensured he was in no pain and were so caring and thoughtful.”
Chris Aubry, Marion’s husband, said: “Fred was the former landlord of the Mare and Foal pub in Yeoford, but had also been a sailor, pilot, farmer and even kept Shire horses.
“He was a former racing car driver competing in Formula 5000, Formula Vee and was British Formula Vee Champion in 1969.
“He previously told me ‘I have had a really good life and done pretty much everything’.”
Fred was born in Brentford, Middlesex, was an underwater civil engineer, and appeared on the television programme “Salvage Squad” as an expert guiding competitors.
His hobbies also included classic vehicles and restoring them.
Mr Saunders left three children, Dave, Leslie and Marion, six grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.
Sue added that Fred was remembered by everyone as “a legend”.