KEY POINTS:
A former New Zealand roller-skating champion was killed yesterday in a house fire in South Auckland.
Adrienne Mudford died at her home in Coronation Rd, Papatoetoe, at 1am despite attempts by St John Ambulance staff to resuscitate her.
Neighbours in one of four attached units called emergency services after seeing smoke billowing from a bedroom.
Firefighters fought through the smoke-filled unit and used a thermal imaging camera to find Mrs Mudford before removing her from the home.
It is understood the fire was confined to the bedroom but Mrs Mudford was found in another room.
The 72-year-old and her late husband, Bill Mudford, travelled to the United States in 1957 as part of the first New Zealand team to compete at the roller-skating world championships.
Mrs Mudford, then Adrienne Creber, achieved a third placing in the women's figure skating. With Mr Mudford, whom she later married, she also won third place in the free pairs category at the championships.
Mr Mudford died about six years ago.
Mrs Mudford's brother, John Creber, said his sister suffered from breathing and lung problems, with emphysema and diabetes among other health problems.
"I saw her two weeks ago and I spoke to her on Saturday. She didn't have very good health."
Mr Creber said he was not sure if his sister's medication had contributed to her not being able to escape the blaze.
However, he said, she was a smoker and he had been told a cigarette might have started a fire on her bed.
"It sounds like she fell asleep on it, whether she'd had a glass of wine or something ... She's inhaled the smoke and she got out of her room and out into the spare bedroom next door and then collapsed and died."
Mr Creber said his sister had three children, who also had extensive involvement in roller-skating. She also had five grandchildren.
The family hoped to hold her funeral this Friday.
Chief Fire Safety Officer Murray Binning said the fire was thought to be accidental.
"All I can tell you is that we've discounted electrical causes."
The home had smoke alarms.
