A tragic incident unfolded as a 13-year-old girl lost her life in a fire that engulfed her bunk bed while she was asleep. The victim, Layla Allen, a Year 8 student at St Edmund Arrowsmith School in Whiston, perished in the blaze at her home in Prescot on April 2 last year.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene on Kingsway, Prescot, around 11.40 pm to find Layla’s parents, Shaun Allen and Michelle McGurry, and her five siblings outside the house. Despite efforts to rescue her, Layla was found trapped inside her bedroom on the first floor, where firefighters discovered her on the top bunk of a bunk bed. Sadly, she was pronounced dead at the scene due to the severity of her injuries.
During the inquest, coroner Anita Bhardwaj highlighted challenges in obtaining statements from the other children present in the house, as the family expressed concerns about the emotional impact on them. This hindered the investigation, preventing a conclusive determination of events leading to the tragic outcome.
Authorities confirmed no external involvement in the fire, as Merseyside Police found no evidence implicating any third party. The fire investigation specialist, Ruth Baller-Wilson, noted that the fire likely originated on the bunk bed, with indications pointing to a potential ignition source like a lighter. Although the exact cause could not be definitively established, the presence of disposable lighters in the house raised suspicions.
The post-mortem examination revealed carbon monoxide levels in Layla’s lungs, confirming the fire as the cause of her death. Notably, this incident followed a previous fire at the residence, where a family member was identified as the probable cause using a lighter.
Despite safety assessments and offers for educational programs following the earlier fire, the family declined interventions, leading to concerns about fire safety practices within the household. The coroner emphasized the critical need for the family to engage with fire services for guidance and support in preventing such tragedies in the future.
In a poignant message to Layla’s parents, Ms. Bhardwaj stressed the importance of fire safety education and assistance from relevant authorities, underlining the gravity of the situation given the recurrence of fire-related incidents. The unfortunate loss of Layla underscores the imperative for proactive measures to safeguard the family and prevent further tragedies.