AN ELDERLY man described as an eccentric died after a fire broke out in his Oxford home.

The man, named locally as Julian Koenig, is understood to have lived alone at his house in Marlborough Road, Grandpont, for 10 years.

Neighbours saw flames coming from windows just after 10pm on Saturday and called 999. Firefighters used a hydraulic platform to reach the fire as it spread through the roof to the house next door.

Tiffany Stern, who lives in Cobden Crescent, said: “Suddenly there were flashing lights everywhere, and there were flames coming out of the window. It looked out of control, it was quite scary.

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“It is a very sad story.”

She said she saw paramedics attempting to resuscitate the man in front of the house.

Mark Thompson, who lives in Marlborough Road, said he saw the man being carried into an ambulance on a stretcher.

He said: “It was horrible, it was just so unexpected.”

The man, in his 70s, was rushed to the John Radcliffe Hospital by ambulance crews but died there.

A long-time friend of Mr Koenig, Paul Evans, came to visit him at home yesterday afternoon as he does every Sunday, only to discover the burnt-out house. 

He said: “This was an absolute tragedy.”

He said Mr Koenig had moved to Oxford 10 years ago to study for a Master’s degree in French at Oxford University.

Mr Koenig’s only relative had been his mother, who died around the same time Mr Koenig arrived in Oxford, Mr Evans said. He added that he had lived alone since then.

He described Mr Koenig as an “eccentric who lost his eccentricity”.

Neighbours said that Mr Koenig had been a long-time Conservative supporter and would campaign door-to-door for the party.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and Thames Valley Police were yesterday carrying out an investigation, and it is understood the blaze may have been caused by candles.

Six fire engines from Oxford, Abingdon and Eynsham were needed to put out the fire.

Watch manager Sean Mienie from Rewley Road fire station said it was a “tragic” case.

He said: “Crews attended the scene and entered the building quickly, tackling a well-developed fire so that they could rescue the person from the property.”

Northamptonshire resident Timothy Watson bought the house next door, also damaged in the fire, just three weeks ago.

He said he was called by police yesterday morning who told him they had to smash his door down to get in and fight the blaze in his roof.

Yesterday, he was trying to get hold of the locksmith who had replaced a damaged lock so he could get inside his new house and check the damage.

Thames Valley Police spokeswoman Hannah Williams said: “A man in his 70s who had been inside the property was taken to the John Radcliffe where he was pronounced deceased. Officers are liaising with Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and a file is being prepared for the coroner.”

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