Coroner Urges Ban on Hoover Dryer Model After Fatal Fire

Senior coroner Martin Fleming has called for an urgent safety review and a potential ban on the sale of a specific Hoover tumble dryer model after a fire, likely caused by a fault in the appliance, killed Sohaib Ahmed, 38, and his nine-year-old daughter Manahal Ahmed. The pair were found unresponsive at their home in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, while Mr. Ahmed's other daughter survived with significant injuries.

Fleming issued a Prevention of Future Deaths report suggesting a ban on the DX C10DCER-80 Hoover condenser tumble dryer while safety inspections are conducted. He expressed concern that "circumstances creating a risk of future deaths may continue" if the model and wider product safety implications are not thoroughly examined. The Office for Product & Safety Standards (OPSS) has reportedly received a significant number of product fire notifications involving this model from fire services across the UK. Fleming noted that an estimated 1.6 million Hoover and Candy branded condenser or vented tumble dryers may share similar characteristics with the implicated model.

An inquest heard that the fire began in the early morning of June 8, 2025. A neighbor alerted emergency services, who arrived to find Mr. Ahmed unresponsive near the front door. Firefighters extinguished the blaze, which was primarily located in the ground floor rear of the property. Manahal was found in a bedroom on the first floor. Resuscitation efforts by paramedics were unsuccessful, and both father and daughter were pronounced dead due to fatal inhalation of fire gases.

Investigators determined it was "more likely than not" that the DX C10DCER-80 Hoover condenser tumble dryer was the source of the fire in the kitchen. However, the specific ignition mechanism within the dryer remains undetermined. Fleming highlighted that experts noted this type of dryer could burn almost completely once a fire is established, making it difficult to identify the initiating defect. He stated that the evidence could not determine if the ignition stemmed from tracking, a defective solder joint, heater relay failure, or another internal electrical failure, raising concerns about a potentially serious mechanism failure that cannot be identified or prevented with current evidence.

Fleming requested a "root cause analysis" of the DX C10DCER-80 model and similar incidents. He also urged an examination of comparable branded dryers that might share its characteristics. His report was sent to Haier Smart Home UK & I Limited and the OPSS.

The OPSS confirmed its agreement with the need for a root cause analysis and stated that it had previously communicated its expectations to Haier UK in December 2025 to determine the root causes of tumble dryers linked to two fatal fires, including this one.

Haier Smart Home UK & I, in its response to the coroner, expressed condolences and stated that individuals at Haier UK were profoundly affected by the incident. A spokesperson claimed there was "no elevated safety risk" from the model and that they did not consider it reasonable to halt sales, although the model is no longer actively manufactured. The company cited only one other safety incident where a customer believed they had the model, but its identity could not be confirmed. Haier stated they were satisfied there was no elevated safety risk.

The DX C10DCER-80 model and other similar Infinity platform models ceased production by the first quarter of 2022. Haier acknowledged a "remote possibility" of older stock remaining with third-party retailers but maintained that their broader analysis did not reveal any systemic safety issues. Consequently, they determined it was not appropriate to halt sales of the model or similar ones, while affirming their commitment to ongoing risk monitoring and corrective actions.