Cambridge man 'absolutely lost' one year on from e-bike fire
Today marks a year since Scott Peden lost his family in the blaze
A man whose family were killed in an e-bike fire in Cambridge one year ago today said he continues to feel lost without them.
Scott Peden lost his partner Gemma Germeney and their two children Lilly, 8 and Oliver, 4 after an e-bike left charging overnight exploded at their home in Sackville Close on 30th June.
Scott spent two months in hospital before he was discharged and is now living in a new home.
"I'm absolutely lost without my family"
"I am absolutely lost without my family; to this day, I can't watch certain movies, can't read certain books because of how they make me feel," he said.
"My life has been ruined and I'm going along with whatever's given to me in this unhappy scrap of existence I live in now.
"I've only been in this new house for about three months; everything is still so new and trying to get used to the quiet house, quiet life, the single living, and I haven't experienced it since I was in my late teens."
Fire was 'like something from an action movie'
Scott used his e-bike to commute to work and left it charging overnight underneath his staircase.
After the original battery which powered the device was stolen, he replaced it with one he found on eBay.
"The image of seeing that bike on fire is something that is going to stick with me forever, I've never seen anything like it; it was like something from an action movie," he said.
"It (the fire) was violent and terrifying, and the last words I ever heard from Gemma have rung in my head every night before I go to bed since that day, 'I can't get out'.
"I've thought about trying to move on but every time I do, I feel guilty because she didn't die of natural causes, we didn't have a break-up, I didn't have a chance to say goodbye to her or do anything."
Campaigning for tougher safety laws
Since our exclusive interview with Scott, he's been raising awareness of the dangers that e-bike batteries can pose and has backed calls from charity Electrical Safety First for tougher safety laws to prevent further tragedies.
It comes amid an investigation we've been leading into the issues of e-bike and e-scooters, and the risks their lithium-ion batteries provide.
A senior coroner has since called for more regulation of the sale of lithium-ion batteries and their chargers after a fire caused by one in Bristol led to a man's death.
Earlier this week it was ruled Afghan refugee Abdul Jabar Oryakhel, 30, lost his life trying to escape a fire started by one of the batteries, when it exploded inside a flat and blocked his way out.
In a Prevention of Future Deaths Report, Mary Voisin, senior coroner for Avon, says there must be more regulation of what batteries can be sold.
"There appears to be a lack of understanding of the dangers with Lithium-ion batteries used for e-bikes and e-scooters," she writes in the report.
"I understand that there is currently no British or European standard to control what lithium ion e-bike batteries and chargers can be sold in the UK."
Ms Voisin adds her belief that "there is a risk that future deaths will occur", unless better protections are established.
'Amazing' support for Scott
Twelve months on from the fire, Scott said he's received plenty of support in trying to help rebuild his life.
"Just finding someone new is unthinkable for me, for the fact I still feel like I'm in a relationship with her and I would never want to replace my kids," he added.
"I've had amazing support not only form family and work, but from the public, Electrical Safety First have been amazing; that's all you can do, accept the help when it comes."