Mother pleads for Londoners to beware e-bikes following daughter’s death in fire
The mother of a woman who died in a house fire has warned Londoners about the risks of e-vehicles.
Maria Frasquilho Macarro’s daughter, Sofia Duarte, died aged 21 on New Year’s Day in a flat fire in the Old Kent Road, in Bermondsey.
Fire investigators found a bicycle had been converted into an e-bike and the bike’s lithium battery pack had failed, causing the fire.
The fire broke out in Sofia’s flat hallway, blocking her fire escape route.
Maria said: “Sofia loved life, she loved to party and she enjoyed her job working behind the bar at a nightclub.
“I really want to make sure her death is not in vain and if I can raise awareness about the dangers of e-bikes and lithium batteries then there will be a positive in this.
“If we can save someone else’s life, I will take great comfort in that because at the moment I am hurting – I don’t want others to suffer as much as I have done.
“Sofia meant the world to me and my family. I don’t know how to live without her. It feels like a nightmare and I can’t wake up.”
The London Fire Brigade has launched a #ChargeSafe campaign to help people safely use e-bikes and e-scooters and inform people about the dangers of charging and storing vehicles and their batteries.
The campaign started as a result of a rise in the number of extremely serious fires involving lithium batteries, which are commonly used with e-vehicles.
So far this year, the London Fire Brigade has been called to an e-bike or e-scooter fire once every two days, a 60 per cent increase compared to the same period as last year.
London Fire Brigade’s Deputy Commissioner, Dom Ellis, said: “Sofia’s death is a tragedy, and our condolences are with her family and friends. We are working hard to prevent these types of incidents in the future.”
For advice and tips on e-vehicle safety visit: https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/safety/the-home/e-scooters-and-e-bikes/
Pictured Top: Sophia Duarte (Picture: London Fire Brigade)
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