These images of a burnt-out fridge and kitchen show how a woman with Alzheimer’s disease mistook the kitchen appliance for her stove and burnt wood in it, leading to her death.

The elderly woman, named as Hayriye Yilmaz, from Giresun, in the Black Sea Region of north-eastern Turkey. Died from smoke poisoning from the deadly fumes that were released when the refrigerator went up in flames.

The 81-year-old woman wanted to turn the stove on in her home, where she lived alone, to keep warm and got some firewood ready.

But due to the debilitating effects of the disease, she mistook her fridge for her wood-burning stove. And loaded it up with the firewood.

She then set fire to the wood, causing toxic gases and smoke to be released from the fridge.

Local media reported that her small home quickly filled up with the deadly smoke and fumes.

Neighbours eventually noticed the fire and called the fire brigade. With firefighters rushing to the scene and putting it out.

They found Hayriye’s lifeless body in the house.

Her body has been taken to a hospital morgue for autopsy.

An investigation into the blaze to confirm the circumstances is ongoing.