A RETIRED paramedic who heroically saved 20 people from a burning boat disaster on the Thames 14 years ago was killed when his own yacht caught fire in Corfu last year, an inquest heard.

Father-of-two Jonathan Towell, of Sandy Lane, Shrivenham, returned to his boat, Blue Chip, in Ipsos Harbour, Corfu, after a night ashore with other boat owners during which he drank about four glasses of wine, the Gloucester inquest was told.

Within hours his boat was ablaze and his badly burned body was recovered from it after firefighters and coastguards had tackled the flames.

Deputy Gloucestershire coroner David Dooley recorded a verdict of accidental death on Mr Towell, pictured, after hearing that Greek investigators had found no sign of arson or foul play.

The investigation concluded that the most likely cause of the blaze on January 10 last year was a gas heater on board the Blue Chip.

Mr Towell's wife, Shirley, said that he spent most of his life living on his boat. He and she were living separately but still spoke regularly.

He had been an Oxfordshire paramedic but retired four years ago and went to live on his boat in Corfu, she said.

She last saw him when he stayed with her from late 2002 until April 2003, she added.

"I spoke to him on the phone the day before his death and he seemed fine," she said.

"He had been to a navigation course and had enjoyed a couple of beers."

Gloucestershire pathologist Dr Keith McCarthy said the Greek post-mortem examination had found that Mr Towell died from burns, but he felt it was more likely that he died from inhaling fumes from the fire.

He gave cause of death as the effects of fire.

The deputy coroner said that he was satisfied that the alcohol Mr Towell had drunk was not excessive.

He said it appeared Mr Towell had been in good humour that night and that no third party was involved in the tragedy.

He recorded an accidental death verdict.

Mr Towell hit the headlines in April 1993 when he dived into the Thames near Faringdon and stopped a burning boat running into a bank where 20 people were standing.

He was rewarded for his bravery by former Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd who presented him with a Distinguished Service Award at Oxford Ambulance Station in 1993.

Mr Towell, pictured below, is survived by his widow and their two children, Helen and Keith, and several grandchildren.