Police name woman killed in heater accident

Police have named the 92-year-old woman found dead outside her Dannevirke home yesterday after her dressing gown was set alight by a heater.

Mona Grace Stewart had been warming clothes by the gas heater when her dressing gown caught fire.

"She appears to have made her way through the house and collapsed on the back step," police said in a statement.

A caregiver found her body shortly before 10am yesterday morning and alerted police.

The fire service was also called to the Waterloo St address but the fire was limited to the dressing gown.

It was either extinguished by Mrs Stewart or burned itself out, police said.

Police have taken the heater and gas bottle for thorough examination.

Mrs Stewart's death has been referred to the Coroner and a post-mortem examination will take place but police are not treating her death as suspicious.