Mother of two dies and child critically injured after e-bike battery fire in Kent

A house fire on Northumberland Road in Shepway, near Maidstone, Kent, is believed to have started when an e-bike battery burst into flames, according to Kent Fire and Rescue Service investigators. Leah Wagstaff, a mother of two, succumbed to her injuries after being rescued and treated in intensive care, and her five-year-old son Charlie remains in critical condition. Her partner, Charlie Fuller, and their eight-year-old daughter, Nellie, suffered only minor injuries after being assisted out of the burning home by two off-duty firefighters and other members of the public.

The fire service commended the rapid response of both civilians and its crews. Friends and community members have organized a balloon release in Wagstaff’s memory and a fundraising campaign, led by her childhood friend Abby Kitchenham, aims to provide the family with essential support. The cause of the battery fire—whether charging, defect, damage or modification—has not yet been determined.