Manchester coroner’s pay-at-the-pump supermarket warns of man’s death in fire

A man was able to set himself on fire at a gas station because of a lack of staff, a coroner said.

Afolabi Oluwafemi Ojerinde, 48, died after suffering major burns at a Tesco petrol station in Manchester on September 5 last year.

Manchester coroner Zak Golombeck has warned supermarkets that more people could die if they do not take action.

A Tesco spokesman said: “We have seen the report and are taking its findings into account.”

Mr Ojerinde used the petrol pump despite not having an authorized car or container and was allowed to continue once payment was made without further security camera checks, the report said.

Mr Golombeck said: “No member of staff was present at the petrol station to approve or deny the deceased access to the petrol pump and his approval was automatic after payment was made at the pump.”

The investigation was opened on September 26 last year and the final hearing has not yet taken place.

However, the coroner and GMFRS said there was “concern that further deaths will occur” if action was not taken.

Tesco has until August 20 to respond to the report, which has also been sent to supermarkets Sainsbury’s, Asda and WM Morrison for guidance.