Gran loses husband of 50 years as e-scooter causes 'horror story' house fire
A grandmother’s husband of 50 years was killed in a devastating house fire started by an e-scooter left on charge, as she and her family fled for their lives.
Sandra Lee, 64, managed to escape the top floor of her London home when the blaze broke out on the morning of July 6. Her two children and grandchildren also escaped with minor injuries, but husband Bobby, 78, was tragically killed in the flames.
He had dementia and recently suffered two strokes so was sleeping downstairs when the e-scooter burst into flames.
His daughter Cheryl had to make an impossible decision whether to save her father or the rest of her family as the fire raged.
Days after the disaster, brave Sandra underwent urgent surgery for bowel cancer.
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Sandra and Bobby, 78, in their younger days (Daily Record)
The house days after the tragic house fire (Daily Record)Mrs Lee’s niece Kimberley Gradini told the Daily Record : “My auntie Sandra and my cousins are completely traumatised. They were left in complete shock.
"The house has been completely destroyed and they will never be allowed back inside. Their neighbours have not been able to go into their homes either.
"It was like a horror story unfolding in front of their eyes.
“Cheryl told me the e-scooter was on charge when it sparked up in the hallway.
"The fire spread throughout the downstairs within seconds. Bobby had dementia and recently suffered two strokes so he was in a bed downstairs.
"Cheryl's kids, brother and Sandra were upstairs - in the moment she felt she had to make the decision to save her kids and the rest of the family upstairs or her dad. She tried to drag him out but she couldn't manage.”
Cheryl's two teenage boys had to jump from the first floor window. Thankfully she made it out with her mum and her brother Josh.
Kimberley added: “Josh was burned while getting Sandra out of the house. Cheryl and Josh both tried to go back in to get their dad but the flames had engulfed the place.
“Everyone is focusing on Sandra right now and doing their best to try and support each other.
"It was a horrendous situation."
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A fundraiser started for the family has so far raised more than £800.
It comes as an inquest on Friday heard a mum-of-four died when the battery from an electric scooter exploded, sparking a fire which tore through the third floor of her home in Blackpool.
Rebecca Downes was forced to jump from a window to escape the ferocious blaze, but suffered multiple injuries in the fall.
An off-duty paramedic, who also lived in Hill Road, started CPR and was joined by NWAS, but despite their best efforts they were unable to save Rebecca.
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