Father whose partner and children died in fire after e-bike battery ‘exploded’ calls for urgent safety measures
A grieving father whose partner and two children were killed in a fire sparked by an e-bike battery has called for urgent safety measures to be introduced.
Scott Peden, from Cambridge, lost his partner Gemma, 31, their eight-year-old daughter Lilly and four-year-old son Oliver after an e-bike battery bought online exploded and caused a fire.
The family’s two dogs also died in the blaze, which left 30-year-old Mr Peden in a coma for a month and with prolonged injuries.
June marks one year since the fatal fire and Mr Peden said “life hasn’t been the same since”.
“I feel like my life has ended and I don’t know how to move on,” he added.
“Before the fire, I had no idea about the dangers of these lithium-ion batteries. I bought my battery online and just assumed it would be safe, I never imagined it could be so dangerous.
“The battery exploded under my stairs, whilst my family was asleep. Flames were coming up the stairs like a flamethrower.
“The fire and smoke filled the house up in seconds. I told them to jump but they couldn’t get out.
“I’ve lost everything from that one night and my heart has been left broken.”
Mr Peden spoke a year after his family were killed. Pic: PA
Backed by the charity Electrical Safety First, Mr Peden is calling on all political parties to make it mandatory for manufacturers to have certification from an independent third party stating that their e-bikes, e-scooters and batteries are safe.
He said: “My life has been ruined but I can help to save someone else’s.”
Currently, companies can self-declare their e-bikes and batteries are safe.
Similar requirements are already in place for other high-risk products like fireworks and heavy machinery.
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April: E-bike bursts into flames at train station
Lesley Rudd, chief executive of Electrical Safety First, said: “Right across the country people are dying because of these fires, and people like Scott are left living with the grief and devastation.
“Legislation is desperately needed and time is of the essence… we want to work with any future government to address the problem as a priority. They will have the power to save lives and prevent future heartache.”
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Last year, 11 people died due to fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters, with hundreds injured as a result of the fires caused by the lithium-ion batteries.
In March, fire crews were called to an exploding e-bike on a train platform in Sutton, London, with dramatic footage showing flaming battery cells being projected from the battery across the platform.
In Croydon, four children were among six people taken to hospital due to smoke inhalation following an e-bike fire in April that caused serious damage to their maisonette, destroying the staircase between the first and second floor.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
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As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
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