A 13-year-old boy has died following a house fire in Blackpool, with authorities investigating the possibility that an e-bike charger explosion sparked the blaze. The boy, identified as Coby Keogh, succumbed to his injuries on Sunday, according to Lancashire Police.
Emergency services were alerted to the property fire on Redcar Road at approximately 9:37 a.m. on June 30. Fire crews arrived on the scene within four minutes. A 19-year-old man, Joey Gregory, and Coby Keogh were transported to the hospital with severe injuries. As of Saturday, Gregory remained in serious condition, according to his mother's social media update.
Three other individuals present in the home sustained minor injuries. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by police and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service. At this stage, there is no indication of third-party involvement.
In a statement, police indicated that an e-bike may have initiated the fire. Information regarding the safe charging of e-bikes has been made available.
Joey Gregory's father, Harry Gregory, shared on Facebook that his son was in critical condition and urged prayers for him and the other young boy involved. A GoFundMe campaign established for Joey and his family has garnered over £10,000 in donations.
Authorities are appealing for information and ask anyone with details regarding the incident to contact them on 101, referencing log 0451 of June 30.