E-bike battery in fatal fire had repairs, inquest hears

An inquest has revealed that an e-bike battery, which was involved in a fire resulting in the deaths of a mother and her two children, had shown problems before the tragic incident. Gemma Germeney, aged 31, along with her children Lilly, eight, and Oliver, four, died in the fire at their home on Sackville Close in Cambridge on 30 June 2023. Their father and partner, Scott Peden, survived the blaze.

The Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service previously stated that the fire most likely started due to an e-bike left charging. During the inquest, Peden recounted that he had bought a replacement battery after the original one was stolen. He explained that the bike had previously cut out and that he had taken it to a repairman on two separate occasions for fixes. Peden purchased the e-bike online for £900 and described it as being in “perfect working order,” except for an incident when he lost the key on a fairground ride. After the battery was stolen, he researched a replacement but found it was expensive and beyond his immediate means.

Peden provided further details, saying that he bought a second-hand battery online around 9 June, which appeared to take longer than expected to charge but was still functional. However, the battery again cut out near his home. Following a colleague’s advice, Peden and Gemma’s father visited a repairman named Stoil Severinov, who informed them that the battery’s fuse was being overwhelmed by power and replaced it for £30. Despite this, the battery failed again and Peden returned alone, where Severinov recommended replacing the battery. Since Peden did not have funds, Severinov offered to “bypass the cells” as a temporary remedy. When asked whether Severinov warned him of any risks, Peden replied, “no.”

On the night the fire broke out, Peden said he heard a “massive bang” that was loud and unmistakable. Severinov, who gave evidence with the help of an interpreter, described the repairs he had performed, confirming the fuse had been changed and explaining that his fixes were temporary. He also clarified that he had no expertise in modifying battery cells and had never altered them. Authorities, including the Office for Product Safety and Standards, have interviewed Severinov under caution, but no decision has been reached yet regarding potential criminal charges. The coroner opened the inquest by reading a portrait from Gemma Germeney’s mother, who described Gemma and her children as “our complete world” and “beautiful, funny, extremely kind, loving and caring.” The inquest is ongoing

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