Gran and Disabled Son Die in Blazing House Fire Sparked by Faulty Tumble Dryer
An 86-year-old grandmother and her disabled son perished in a devastating house fire in Edgware, North London, on March 29 last year. New details from a pre-inquest hearing suggest a dodgy Whirlpool tumble dryer may have sparked the blaze.
Fire Rips Through Edgware Home
The London Fire Brigade found the semi-detached house badly damaged, with the fire gutting most of the ground floor and half of the first floor. One woman escaped before firefighters arrived, but when they rushed in, they found the two victims trapped inside. Both were rushed to hospital but sadly died from their injuries.
Experts Clash Over Cause of Fire
Barrister Adam Korn, representing the Bhatt family, revealed conflicting expert views during the hearing. Investigator Dr Jarrett pointed to an electrical fault in the tumble dryer’s condensate drain pump or EMI filter terminals. Meanwhile, investigator Mr Ansel blamed a fault in the dryer’s door switch.
Adding to the confusion, another expert, Mr Jonathan-Thomas, suggested an “external” cause — like a cigarette butt. But Mr Korn slammed this theory, explaining Dipak Bhatt was a supervised smoker, with his grandmother lighting and extinguishing his cigarettes safely.
Whirlpool’s Lawyer Questions Scope of Inquest
Barrister Dominic Adamson, defending Whirlpool, asked if the inquest should exclude the fire’s cause due to conflicting expert opinions and an ongoing family lawsuit. Coroner Dr Peter Straker firmly refused, saying uncovering exactly what sparked the fire is vital to stop future tragedies.
Full Inquest Set for November
Dr Straker has ordered Whirlpool to hand over more technical details as demanded by investigators. The full inquest will open in November to pinpoint the fire’s cause and reveal any tumble dryer safety risks. The Bhatt family is desperate for answers after this heartbreaking loss.
