The NSW Bushfires Coronial Inquiry has heard that 59-year-old Michael Clarke was incinerated in his bathroom when the Badja Forest fire hit his home near Bodalla on the NSW South Coast on January 23, 2020.
At an inquest into Mr Clarke's death today, the court heard a friend who was searching for Mr Clarke found his remains a few days after the fire in what would have been the bathroom area of his remote bush property near Bodalla on the NSW South Coast.
The coroner heard Mr Clarke had been unwell in the year leading up to the fire and was undergoing medical tests in hospital the week before.
The court heard he had not been himself and, at times, was suffering from bouts of confusion and dizzy spells.
Despite this, Mr Clarke's family said he insisted on going home to his property a few days before the fire hit, and his brother drove him home.
Family did not realise fire would hit Bodalla on January 23
Assisting counsel Donna Ward told the court neither Mr Clarke's family nor his neighbours were expecting the fire to hit.
"The family have said if they thought his home was going to be threatened, they wouldn't have taken him home," Ms Ward said.
"The fire hit Mr Clarke's road without warning. Other neighbours also could not tell the fire was close."
While the RFS did knock on the doors of Mr Clarke's neighbours, Ms Ward said the RFS did not reach Mr Clarke's property and it was not easy to find from the road.
In evidence last year, the court heard Mr Clarke had phoned his brother, Shane, to tell him the shed outside his home was on fire around 4pm, however the line cut out.
His neighbour Robert Eder had also gone to check on him but, by the time he arrived, the home had already been destroyed and there was no sign of Mr Clarke.
Mr Eder had to return to his own property to continue putting out spotfires shortly after.
In her closing submissions, Ms Ward made it clear that while there had been some concerns this arm of the fire might have been an escaped burn, both police and RFS fire investigators were of the view it was the main fire front.
'The world needs more people like him'
Mr Clarke's sister, Shelly, said in a family statement that Mr Clarke was an intelligent, kind man who was a friend to all.
"The world needs more people like him," she said.
"He was such a warm and caring friend to all."
She spoke of growing up with her brother in an air force family, moving around the country many times as children.
She also read out a number of condolence messages from Mr Clarke's friends and neighbours who echoed her sentiments about him being a kind and generous person.
Friends have since named a pedestrian bridge near his home 'Mick's Bridge' in his honour.
In closing submissions, Ms Ward said the autopsy had formally concluded Mr Clarke died from incineration when the fire hit his home on January 23, 2020.
The NSW Bushfires Coronial Inquiry will wrap up its southern region hearings later this week.
