Call for changes after tumble dryer fire deaths

A relative of two disabled Londoners who died in a fire caused by an electrical fault in a condenser tumble dryer is calling for safety changes.

An inquest at North London Coroner's Court in November found Champagauri and Dipak Bhatt died from smoke inhalation during the fire at their house in Edgware, north London, in 2023.

The coroner for north London, Dr Peter Straker, concluded the fire most likely started due to the failure of a condensate pump terminal in their Whirlpool Hotpoint dryer.

Pavan Bhatt, 29, said he wanted changes to be made to "avoid another family having to go through a similar tragedy". Beko Europe said it "extends our deepest sympathies to the Bhatt family".

Both Champagauri Bhatt, 86, who was registered blind and used a wheelchair, and Dipak Bhatt, 66, who was brain damaged and unable to speak after suffering a stroke, were thought to have been asleep when the fire started.

Pavan, the grandson of Champagauri and nephew of Dipak, lived with them but was at work at the time of the fire.

After they were rescued by the emergency services and taken to St Mary's Hospital, Champagauri died on 31 March 2023 and Dipak died on 18 April 2023.

The dryer was less than seven months old, and the model is not currently subject to any corrective action or recall.

Following the inquest the coroner published a prevention of future deaths report calling for action to be taken to reduce the risk of future deaths caused by fires started by white goods such as tumble dryers.

In his report the coroner stressed his concern that moisture getting into condensate pumps may cause a fire, and urged improvements in reporting and analysis of such fires.

The report added a review of manufacturing standards should take place too.

The coroner also called for better communication between manufacturers and fire safety organisations such as the Office of Product Safety Standards regulator and London Fire Brigade.

His report was sent to a range of organisations including Hotpoint UK, the Office of Product Safety Standards, British Standards Institute and the National Fire Chiefs Council.

Pavan, who was represented by legal firm Leigh Day during the inquest, said he hoped the coroner's concerns would "lead to action being taken by the manufacturer and regulatory bodies".

"Since the night of the fire, I have had to deal with the distress and grief of losing my much-loved grandmother and uncle in these appalling circumstances," he said.

"I now call on all those concerned to follow the recommendations in the coroner's report, so we can avoid another family having to go through a similar tragedy."

Leigh Day said the dryer was less than seven months old, and the model is not currently subject to any corrective action or recall.

Leigh Day partner Thomas Jervis said: "The family will now wait for Hotpoint's response as to whether they are going to carry out a full voluntary recall of machines with these components."

A spokesperson for Beko Europe, which is responsible for the Hotpoint brand, said: "Most importantly, we extend our deepest sympathies to the Bhatt family, and everyone affected by this tragedy.

"Our investigations thus far reveal this to be an isolated incident and consumers who have purchased the same model should not be alarmed.

"There have been no other incidents of this nature with this model and all our products meet and exceed relevant regulatory and legal standards for safety."

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