Hotpoint is blamed for killer tumble dryer fire
VICTIMS Doug McTavish and Bernard Hender
A CORONER yesterday ruled a faulty Hotpoint tumble dryer probably caused a flat fire that killed two men, leaving makers Whirlpool facing a multi-million pound legal action.
The families of victims Doug McTavish and Bernard Hender are considering suing the US electricals giant, which has refused to issue a full product recall.
The inquest into the 2014 fire said the blame more than likely lies with a faulty door switch.
The manufacturers insisted the inferno could have been started by an iron, light fitting or “spontaneous combustion”.
But delivering his narrative verdict, coroner David Lewis said: “On the balance or probabilities the fire was caused by an electrical fault in the tumble dryer in the laundry room of the flat.
“The other potential explanations for this fire were all properly considered but were shown by the evidence to be highly improbable. While I cannot be sure I have concluded that an electrical fault in the door switch assembly of the tumble dryer was a more likely cause than a problem with the light, a problem with the iron or spontaneous combustion of fabric.” Law firm Leigh Day is representing the families of restaurant manager Doug, 39, and 19-year-old chef Bernard as well as survivor Gary Lloyd Jones. Solicitor Thomas Jervis said: “We are now looking to pursue civil claims against Whirlpool to help the families and Gary Lloyd Jones get back on their feet.
“We hope Whirlpool will now admit liability.” Leigh Day claims the B1 Betron door switch is linked to the fault admitted to by Whirlpool in 2015 where excess fluff catches fire. The Mirror has led calls for action since 2015. The Hotpoint TMV device at the victims’ home in Llanrwst, North Wales, was subject to a Whirlpool product safety alert. Mr Lewis gave the firm two weeks to submit evidence before he decides whether to issue a Prevention of Future Deaths report.
Whirlpool said: “We will carefully review and consider the coroner’s findings.” Funeral director Gary said after the inquest at Abergele: “I am happy with the conclusion. For Bernie and Doug, it’s important.” Consumer group Which? added: “Whirlpool can no longer continue to ignore customer safety and must conduct a full product recall.”
The other potential explanations were shown to be highly improbable DAVID LEWIS CORONER GIVES VERDICT ON DEATHS YESTERDAY
US multinational Whirlpool must do more than “review and consider” a coroner’s verdict that one of its Hotpoint tumble dryers probably started a blaze which claimed the lives of two men.
Safety must always come before profits and Whirlpool spinning faster than a dryer to produce excuses for inadequate responses to past warnings was never good enough.
The firm has been slow and obstructive since the Daily Mirror started highlighting potentially fatal faults in some of its machines. We live in an age when accidents can be minimised and some obvious accidents avoided completely.
Let this tragedy be a moment when safety is taken more seriously and the authorities and the firm act decisively to avoid more funerals.
All of us should be able to sleep free from worry that some other appliance might make it our last night on earth.