THE DEATHS of a young Coventry couple who died in a fire caused by an e-bike battery have been ruled as accidental by a coroner.
In November, a catastrophic house fire at the home of Natasha Johnson-Mall and Karlo Bogdan in The Coppice claimed their lives and those of their beloved dogs, Tyagi and Medusa.
The couple’s dogs, Tyagi and Medusa, also died in the blaze.It was caused by the bike’s lithium-ion battery igniting, rapidly escalated into an intense blaze which was described by Binley firefighter Dell Haughton as the most severe fire he had witnessed in his 21 years of service.
An inquest into their deaths was held on Wednesday (February 19) in Coventry.
Annette Carrington from WMFS’s Fire Investigation team explained how the fire in Coventry unfolded.
She said: “Karlo, the e-bike’s owner, had turned to YouTube for advice and attempted to modify his bike himself, following guidance online from individuals without specialist knowledge. To him, it seemed safe because he wasn’t aware of the hidden risks related to storage and modifications.”
The tragedy has prompted Natasha and Karlo’s grieving families to collaborate with West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) to share their story and raise awareness.
Together, they have created a powerful video which sheds light on the potential dangers of e-bikes and lithium-ion batteries, with the hope of preventing similar incidents.
Natasha’s sister Ehsia said: “The world has lost a truly precious person—uniquely thoughtful and beautiful in every way.
“I’ll never be the same, and I’ll never look at life the same.
“Unless you can afford to purchase an e-bike that has undergone rigorous testing and safety checks, do not buy one.”
WMFS says fires caused by e-bikes and e-scooters in the region have doubled between 2022 and 2023, in line with with national trends.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Richard Stanton expressed his condolences and urged action.
The couple’s devastated living room after the fire.He said: “It’s tragic that Natasha and Karlo lost their lives. Their families have shown incredible courage and compassion by speaking out in our video, hoping others might learn from this heartbreaking incident.”
Annette said warning signs of a failing battery include batteries heating up, deformed or damaged casings, strange smells or smells of burning or melting plastic, and hissing or popping sounds coming from batteries or devices.
She added: “If you notice anything unusual, stop using the battery immediately. Disconnect it, remove it from your property, provided it’s safe to do so, and contact the fire service.”
Emily Fernandez, Head of Prevention at WMFS, emphasised the importance of vigilance when using e-bikes.
She said: “It’s vital and potentially life-saving that people use these products exactly as instructed. Always charge your e-bike while you’re awake, unplug it once fully charged, use the approved charger that came with the product, and exercise extreme caution with conversion kits.
“If possible, charge e-bikes outside residential properties, and never charge them in corridors or near fire exits, should you need to leave your home.”
“These devices have the potential to cause devastating harm. We strongly discourage the use of conversion kits, but if you choose to buy one, be fully aware of the risks.”
Visit https://tinyurl.com/26h4fwjp for more information, including links to safety tips on e-bikes, e-scooters, hoverboards and lithium-ion batteries.
Visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKplzN4YGHw to watch the WMFS video. Some viewers might find it distressing.
