Inquest records accidental deaths of father and daughter in Ingoldmells caravan fire
An inquest has concluded that the deaths of a father and his 10-year-old daughter – whose loss shook the Ingoldmells community in April – were accidental.
The findings, according to a report by the BBC, confirmed that the blaze which tore through their caravan at the Golden Beach Holiday Park could have been started either by a discarded cigarette or an electronic device, though the exact cause will never be known.
The tragedy, as reported by the Skegness Standard, happened in the early hours of April 5 when the caravan belonging to 48-year-old Lee Baker was engulfed in flames. Mr Baker and his daughter Esme, who were enjoying a short break by the sea, both died from smoke inhalation.
Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue told the inquest the destruction was so severe that pinpointing a single cause was impossible, the BBC reported.
Station manager Simon Cartwright explained that while no cigarette was recovered, the intensity of the fire meant the possibility of one being discarded could not be ruled out. Investigators also found remnants of a battery-powered device in the main bedroom and a tablet with a charging cable in another room, but could not determine whether it had been plugged in.
What they were able to say with certainty was that there was no evidence of cooking, heating faults, open flames, or any deliberate act.
The BBC reported Greater Lincolnshire assistant coroner Lindsay Tasker concluded both deaths were accidental, caused by “inhalation of the products of combustion”.
The inquest heard that Mr Baker, who was from Retford and had bought the caravan just months earlier, had spent the evening of April 4 at The Sandancer pub with Esme and friends. They played bingo and pool and were said to be “happy and in good spirits” when they left shortly before 11pm. After returning to the caravan, Mr Baker was seen on a Facetime call around midnight with his daughter before saying he would finish a cigarette and go to bed, the BBC reported.
At about 3.30am, neighbouring holidaymakers awoke to the sound of “loud popping” and “cracking” before discovering the blaze. Emergency services were called and other caravans evacuated.
Det Insp Kara Nicholson of Lincolnshire Police confirmed that CCTV footage showed no suspicious activity and no third-party involvement.
East Lindsey District Council’s statement to the inquest said the holiday park had a “comprehensive” safety policy and a strong compliance record.
In a heartbreaking tribute, Mr Baker’s mother described her son as a “kind, generous and hard-working person” and a “loveable rogue” who “loved spending time with Esme”. The pair, she said, “lived for each other… like free spirits without a care in the world.”