An eight-year-old boy saved his three siblings before he was killed in a tragic house fire sparked by an e-bike battery, an inquest has heard.

Luke Albiston O’Donnell died from hypoxia and carbon monoxide poisoning after an e-bike on charge in the front room of his house in Birkenhead, Merseyside, caught fire in the early hours of August 4.

COURT HEARD

An inquest into his death heard that moments before the vehicle burst into flames, Luke noticed it was making a weird noise and alerted his siblings Ethan, 20, Harry, 11, and Ava, 10.

The trio were able to escape the property via an open window, but Luke remained trapped inside and later died in hospital.

The area corner for Liverpool and the Wirral has now called for greater public awareness on the ‘life-threatening’ risks of storing electronic bikes and scooters in the home.

CAUSE OF THE FIRE

The blaze was sparked by the ignition of the bike’s lithium battery and fires involving these batteries, which are also used for e-scooters, can spread rapidly and produce a toxic vapour.

Thirteen people died from fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters in 2022 and 2023, according to figures published in August by the Office of Product Safety and Standards (OPSS).

Ms Bhardwaj said: ‘The general public do not appreciate the life-threatening risks involved with having lithium iron batteries, from electronic bikes in this case, stored in domestic properties.

‘There appears to be a lack of communication/media coverage about the dangers involved with storing appliances such as electronic bikes/scooters in domestic properties.

‘There have already been three deaths associated with lithium batteries in the home in Merseyside and we have been informed there were a number of similar fatalities across England.’

The coroner believes there is a risk that more deaths could occur unless action is taken.

In June, a coroner called for Government action after the death of a man whose home in Bristol caught fire when an e-bike battery pack he was charging overheated and ignited.