A FATHER-of three-died in a horror fire on his 50th birthday, it has emerged.

Stephen James Davies, of Prestwich, was in a garage in Bury Old Road, Prestwich, near the junction of Park Street, on the evening of September 9 when a massive blaze broke out.

Witnesses saw smoke and heard a bang and then spotted flames coming from the garage just before 10pm.

A man who was walking by heard Mr Davies inside and tried to force the garage door open, but the intensity of the fire and thickness of the smoke beat him back — and he was later given oxygen therapy after suffering breathing problems.

Mr Davies suffered horrific 50 per cent burns to his back and lower body and was taken by ambulance to a specialist burns unit at Wythenshawe Hospital.

Police revealed details of the incident immediately after the fire, but did not add anything later about the victim or his condition.

The day after the fire, Inspector Matt Oxley, of Greater Manchester Police said: "The circumstances surrounding the fire are being investigated."

A new report has confirmed that Mr Davies died in hospital eight days after the fire and that an inquest will now take place.

Mr Davies leaves children Nicola, Scott and Ronnie, siblings Mark and Lisa and parents Hazel and Graham.

It is understood he once lived in Rooden Court, Prestwich.

His funeral took place at Blackley Crematorium on October 9.

A statement from Mr Davies's family said: "The family are absolutely devastated following our tragic loss."

Published in December, the report was written for the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service Authority committee and gives an overview of fires that resulted in fatalities in the county between the start of July and the end of September.

Crews based at Whitefield, Agecroft and Broughton fire stations attended the incident and it took them six minutes and 11 seconds to reach the scene, the report says.

It adds: "Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (officers) were mobilised to a fire involving a garage which on arrival was found to be well alight and entered wearing breathing apparatus to rescue the casualty located inside.

"The casualty had suffered severe burns and died on September 17.

"The cause of the fire was investigated by a multi-agency team incorporating the police, fire scene Investigator and a crime scene investigator.

"Investigations have identified that the most probable cause of this fire is the ignition of combustible material by the application of a naked flame. Awaiting coroner's inquest."

The inquest is due to take place at Bury and Rochdale Coroner's Court at the Phoenix Centre in Heywood at 10am on March 15 and is estimated to take half a day.

The coroner will aim to establish a cause of death.