A BALL of flame exploded in a Dublin hotel kitchen setting a waitress on fire as staff attempted to light a baked Alaska for a wedding party, an inquest has heard.
Brandy and methylated spirits had each been used to try to set light to the dish at the Killiney Court Hotel before the flash of fire which engulfed Mrs Pauline Henderson (48).
Mrs Henderson, from Glenavon Park, Loughlinstown, Co Dublin, suffered 63 per cent body burns and died five weeks later.
A jury at Dublin City Coroner's Court yesterday recorded a verdict of accidental death in the case and recommended that the Health and Safety Authority investigate the matter to prevent a similar tragedy occurring.
Mr Declan Moriarty, the banqueting manager, told the inquest it was some time after 7 p.m. on July 25th, 1996, when staff prepared to serve flaming baked Alaska to wedding guests in the hotel's Bay Room. Sparklers were usually placed on top of the dish, but on this occasion he could not find any and he decided instead to use brandy.
He said he broke an eggshell and placed the two halves on the baked Alaska with brandy in each cup. Attempts to ignite the brandy failed, however, and he informed the hotel manager, Mr John O'Dowd, of the problem.
He was then advised to use methylated spirits. A little of the liquid was then poured into each eggshell. These were then lit, but Mr Moriarty felt that it was not ready for presentation to the wedding guests and informed the restaurant manager, Mr Edward Crimmins, of the difficulties in lighting the cake. He suggested heating the brandy in a soup ladle and pouring it over the baked Alaska. Mr Moriarty was then sent to the reception area.
Mr O'Dowd told the inquest that he went to the kitchen and took the ladle full of brandy from Mr Moriarty and held it over the gas flame, intending to spoon it over the baked Alaska. The container of methylated spirits was sitting on a table "an arm's length away."
There were a number of staff in the kitchen at the time and Mr O'Dowd was talking to Mrs Henderson, who was standing beside him.
As he turned to his right, still holding the ladle of brandy over the stove, there was "an unmerciful sound like a gush of air and the entire room seemed to be on fire."
He tried to knock Mrs Henderson to the ground, but as he did so he lost his footing and fell down a flight of stairs. Almost immediately he got up and grabbed a fire extinguisher.
Mr O'Dowd said that he had been taught in Switzerland how to use methylated spirits instead of brandy to help light a baked Alaska. A thimble of the liquid on the rim of the dish or in half an egg shell would help light it, he said.
Ms Anne Downey, a waitress, said that after brandy was poured into each eggshell, the staff remarked that it was not lighting. The dish was then put back on a hot plate.
She walked across to talk to Mrs Henderson and Mr Alan Cowley, the assistant manager, walked through the swing doors.
"The next thing I remember was a loud bang and a purple ball. I put my face in my hands and rolled myself over on the ground. The kitchen was all a haze, although purple," she said.
"I was never in flames as far as I know, although I received treatment for extensive burns. I just remember the container and there was a ball of purple flame.
"I saw nothing once the flash came to me. It was white and when I went to the floor, the floor was purple."
Mr Cowley said he had added a small amount of methylated spirits to the eggshells, after the brandy had failed to ignite. However, the resulting flame was "almost nonexistent."
He told the inquest: "I turned and as I was lighting the Alaska a large blue flame engulfed the room. I saw Pauline Henderson and Anne Downey had caught fire. I removed my jacket and put it over Pauline's head and back. I tried to force her to the ground, but could not."
Det Sgt Seamus Quinn, an investigator of fire scenes, concluded that the tragedy had resulted from a phenomenon known as "flashpoint."
Vapours from the methylated spirit ignited after coming into contact with the flame from the brandy, causing a "mini explosion."