Mum and son in hospital after leaping from second floor of burning Hackney flat

A mother and son are in hospital after being forced to jump from windows to escape an e-bike battery fire in a house. Most of the three-storey home in Hackney, East London was destroyed by the blaze, London Fire Brigade (LFB) said.

The mother was seriously injured after jumping from the second floor and her adult son, who leapt from the first floor, suffered an unspecified injury. They were forced to escape out of windows because the e-bike that had caught fire was at the bottom of a staircase leading to the ground floor, blocking their exit route.

Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters responded to the blaze on King Edward’s Road, Hackney shortly after 3am on Thursday. It took nearly two hours to bring the fire under control.

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A mum and son were forced to leap from the second floor or perish in the flames (Image: LFB)

LFB assistant commissioner for fire safety Charlie Pugsley said: “This was a devastating fire that has destroyed a home and is a prime example of why the brigade has been running its #ChargeSafe awareness campaign.

“A mother and son who were inside the home when the fire occurred had no choice but to leap from windows because their escape route was blocked. If you own an e-bike or e-scooter, do not store or charge it on an escape route such as a hallway. If you can’t keep it outside, put it in a room where you can shut a door and contain a fire.”

Lithium battery fires can spread rapidly and produce a toxic vapour. The Hackney blaze comes just days after a charging e-bike battery pack caught fire in the living room of a flat in Harringay, north London, which caused a teenager to suffer burns.

In London so far this year there have been 150 e-bike fires and 28 e-scooter fires, LFB said. The combined total is 53% above the figure for the whole of last year and makes them “the capital’s fastest-growing fire trend”, according to the brigade.

Three people have died and around 60 people have been hurt in the fires this year, including 21-year-old nightclub worker Sofia Duarte who was killed at her boyfriend's flat on Old Kent Road. LFB believes there is a lack of safety standards for e-bikes and e-scooters.

Sofia Duarte was just 21 when she died in an e-bike battery fire on New Year's Day 2023 (Image: GoFundMe)

Assistant commissioner Pugsley said: “From our investigations, we know many of the fires we’ve attended have involved second-hand vehicles, the use of incorrect chargers, or the bike has been modified using parts bought online.

"If you’re thinking about buying one of these vehicles as a gift for a loved one for Christmas, please make sure you’re buying it, or parts for them – like batteries, conversion kits or chargers – from a reputable seller.

“If you receive one for Christmas, or you already own an e-bike or e-scooter, make sure you’re using the correct charger, you’re not overcharging, and that you don’t tamper with or modify the battery pack. Keep it well away from an escape route and store or charge the vehicle outside if possible.”

A recent survey for Electrical Safety First indicated that 52% of people planned to do the majority of their Christmas shopping for electronics via online marketplaces in an effort to cut costs. The charity warned this could leave people at risk as “ruthless sellers” look to “cash in on Christmas at the expense of shoppers’ safety”.

Got a story or a tip off? Please email callum.cuddeford@reachplc.com or WhatsApp 07580255582

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National Lottery's cheeky reply after couple missed out on £182 million jackpot despite 'winning'

A couple missed out on a brain-melting £182 million jackpot despite having the correct numbers because their bank did not have enough money in it. Rachel Kennedy, a business student at Brighton University at the time, got all seven EuroMillions numbers matched back in February 2021.

However, her bank account did not have the £2.50 required to actually buy the ticket with the winning numbers so the payment had not actually gone through, meaning her ticket was invalid, the Daily Star reports.

After sharing their woeful story with the world, lottery company Camelot sent them a message wishing them "good luck" in future draws. A spokesman for the company said: "We're aware of Rachel's story and hope she gets in early to buy a ticket for the next big draw."

READ MORE: 'I visited the Coca-Cola truck to see if it's actually worth going - I spent most of my time queuing'

Rachel and Liam had played their numbers – 6, 12, 22, 29, 33, 6 and 11 – for five weeks before they came up on the February 26 draw. Her life flashed before her eyes when she realised she had the winning numbers and she checked her National Lottery account and saw "winning match" displayed.

Rachel's boyfriend Liam was reportedly more upset about the near miss than Rachel herself (Image: Getty Images)

She told the Sun : "I called my boyfriend Liam and my mum into the room and they couldn't believe it either so I was like, 'oh my god I need to call them'. I called the number thinking that I had won £182million and they said 'yeah you've got the right numbers but you didn't have the funds in your account for the payment of the ticket so it didn't actually go through'.

"I was on top of the world when I thought I had won but when I found out I hadn’t, Liam was actually more upset than I was."

Her boyfriend Liam added: "(Rachel) was quite relaxed about it but I had kind of spent it in my head already. I was absolutely heartbroken when we heard the man on the phone say we hadn’t actually bought the ticket. I was already picturing our dream house and the dream car, I think I was getting a bit carried away to be fair."

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Sara Sharif's father, step mother and uncle deny murdering 10-year-old

Sara Sharif's father, stepmother and uncle have denied murder after the ten-year-old girl was found dead under a blanket in her bunk bed at their Woking home on 10 August.

Father Urfan Sharif, stepmother Beinash Batool and uncle Faisal Malik all pleaded not guilty at the Old Bailey today (14 December) after being accused of Sara's murder ahead of a trial in September 2024.

A court previously heard that Sara's body was found after a tipoff that came from a call originating in Pakistan which lasted eight minutes and 34 seconds at 2.47am on 10 August. The defendants had booked flights to the country two day earlier, the court heard.

READ MORE: Girl, 14, dies after falling from Canary Wharf tower block

Sara was found to have "a constellation of healed and healing injuries" prosecutor Giles Bedloe told the Old Bailey.

The day before Sara was discovered, the three defendants left to UK to Pakistan with five children. On their return to the UK on 13 September all three were arrested at Gatwick Airport on suspicion of murder. All three were remanded into custody by the Recorder of London, Judge Mark Lucraft, ahead of today's hearing.

When officers first arrived at the property, they found the young girl lying face up and fully clothed under a blanket in a bunk bed in an upstairs room.

She was identified using the DNA of her mother, Olga Sharif, who lives in Somerset, and another relative, the court was told previously.

A post-mortem examination later found the youngster had suffered “multiple and extensive injuries” over a “sustained and extended” period of time.

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AD FEATURE: Here's how midlifers in London are preparing for retirement

Across the UK, we are living longer than previous generations, with one in three children born today set to live to their 100th birthday. This has big implications for things like the State Pension system – which provides valuable income for those in retirement.

Many people are uncertain what the future might bring, with half of people under the age of 50 believing that ‘there probably won’t be a state pension’ by the time they retire.¹

People of all ages must start thinking differently about how they are preparing for retirement, and what they want their journey towards it and their future life to look like, otherwise too many will be left unprepared.

New analysis from Phoenix Group, the UK’s largest long-term savings and retirement business, shows just how on track people of different ages are, for retirement.

The Retirement Readiness Index explores people’s prospects for work and saving, both today and into the future, showing the challenges that individuals face depending on whether they are set to retire in the 2030s or the 2060s.

You can explore the findings below.

In London, 68 per cent of midlifers (aged 45 – 54) are already reprioritising their current spending to ensure they can support themselves in the future. Of this age group, 22 per cent have spent less money on holidays and luxury items to save more, and 19 per cent have increased the contributions they make to their workplace pension – higher than the UK average (14 per cent).

The good news is that those in their 20s and early 30s are more likely to be on track to meet a moderate standard of living in retirement, thanks to the introduction of pensions auto-enrolment helping people to start saving earlier in their working lives. But we know that even for this age group, saving the minimum amount through auto-enrolment may not be enough.

With one in three children born in the UK today having a good chance of living to 100, it’s likely there will be more working-age adults caring for parents, grandparents, children or grandchildren

However, those in their late 50s and early 60s appear to be the most restricted in the type of job they can do, as health issues start to get in the way of working. We know that over 1 million people aged 50 to 64 are economically inactive due to long-term sickness.²

Those in their 40s and 50s are the least on track to meet a moderate standard of living, which is defined by the Pensions and Life Savings Association (PLSA) as needing £23,300 per year in retirement. This is why taking action and planning for retirement is so important for midlifers.

These age groups are likely to have missed out on generous final salary workplace pension schemes, as well as the benefits of auto-enrolment into a workplace pension for much of their working lives.

The midlife saving challenge

For those in midlife in particular, the challenges of saving for retirement may likely be compounded by other factors such as supporting children and providing unpaid care for older relatives and parents.

Midlife is also a time when people will be taking stock of how they’re preparing for retirement, whether they plan to fully retire by State Pension age or continue to work in some capacity beyond it. The challenge is clear, with the average UK worker aged 45-to-54 needing to save an extra £160,000 in order to meet a moderate standard of living in retirement.³

The latest research from Phoenix Insights, the longevity think tank from Phoenix Group, shows that a large cohort of midlifers are meeting this challenge head-on, as 5.2 million 45-to-54-year-olds across the UK are taking action to save more for later life.⁴

To enjoy fulfilling longer lives, we all need to think differently about our futures, and the futures of those we care about. The first step is to talk and it could be the most important conversation you’ve never had (Image: Phoenix Group)

But it’s not just about making changes to spending in order to save more, as some 45 to 54-year-olds are considering making significant lifestyle changes to boost their long-term savings. In London, some midlifers are looking to take on more work, with 12 per cent considering applying for a second job, and seven per cent looking to downsize their home.

Phoenix Group’s Patrick Thomson, head of research analysis and policy at Phoenix Insights said: “Across the UK, we are grappling with how to make the most of our longer lives, including how we prepare and save for the years ahead. With only one in ten (10%) of those aged 45 to 54 believing they could live on the State Pension alone when they retire without cutting down spending⁵, it is more important than ever to take stock of how we work, earn and save for our future, and the futures of those we care about.

“It is great to see that this challenge is being met with action. Everyone’s journey to and through retirement will be different, and it’s clear there is no one-size-fits-all for how those in midlife are saving and planning for this time in their life. But our research shows that people across the UK, including in the North West, are committed to taking the steps – large or small – to build a better retirement for themselves.

“At Phoenix Group, we know it’s not easy, but the first step is to talk. It could be the most important conversation you’ve never had.”

To find out more about what longer lives might mean for you, visit Phoenix Group.

Sources

¹ Phoenix Insights (July 2022) Reaching a certain age: Public attitudes to the state pension

² ONS (November 2022) Data on economic inactivity because of long-term sickness

³ Phoenix Insights (2023) Pensions Heatmap. Nationally representative survey of 2,500 workers over 45 conducted by Opinium 17th to 24th May 2023.

⁴ ONS (December 2022) Estimates of the population for the UK, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland – here. 59% of UK population aged 45 – 54 is 5,224,480

⁵ Phoenix Insights (2023) Reimagining Roads to Retirement. Nationally representative survey of 2,000 workers aged 45-to-54-years-old conducted by Opinium 29th September to 10th October 2023.

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Sam Ryder is hosting intimate free concerts on a bus in Southbank for Christmas

Sam Ryder is set to become Sam-ta Claus to celebrate his new Amazon Music Original track You're Christmas To Me. He'll be transforming a bus into a Christmas grotto, and he's performing for the public too.

The Sam-ta Grotto Bus will arrive at Queen's Walk, Southbank Centre, on Saturday, December 16. It'll move to Spinningfields in Manchester on Sunday, December 17.

The bus will have opportunities to write Christmas cards to a loved one. There will also be a meet and greet with Sam himself before he performs his new song, You're Christmas To Me.

READ MORE: Harvey Nichols knocks £20 off Christmas hamper and you can get another 8% off

Sam will be doing a meet-and-greet by Southbank (Image: Amazon Music)

Fans will also have the opportunity to decorate their own cookies, and take photos with Sam. He'll be performing throughout the day, from 12pm to 6pm, so no one misses out.

Speaking about his new single, Sam said: "Imagine blasting through the sky on a runaway sleigh with a skin full of mulled wine next to the big red guy…That’s my Christmas song.”

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For those who miss out on meeting Sam, Amazon Music have released a music video for his new song. Inspired by Friendsmas Christmas, the video showcases a 90s flat-share lounge.

There are bottles of bubbly popped, dinner cooking, and crackers pulled. As the festive fun begins, the group of friends get together for a singalong.

You can visit the Sam-ta Grotto at Queen's Walk, Southbank Centre, on Saturday, December 16 from 12pm to 6pm.

Stay up to date with London's most exciting events, newest restaurants and latest deals with our What's On newsletter, Going Out Out. You can sign up HERE.

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Tiny tropical wonderland 4 hours from London where you can get a December tan and flights are £42

A tiny tropical island off the coast of Africa is the perfect winter getaway for those craving some sunshine. Madeira is an autonomous region of Portugal, and it's got just above 250,000 residents.

Its capital, Funchal, is the perfect place to use as a base when exploring the island. In December, temperatures there hover at an average of 21C.

There's plenty to explore in Funchal itself, with the Mercado Dos Lavradores being one of the must-sees in the city centre. The food market is Funchal's answer to borough market, but thanks to the unique climate much of the produce won't be found anywhere else in the world.

READ MORE:'I tried the £12.99 Ryanair travel bag that stops fees and was let on with 2 week's worth of stuff'

The market has fruits you won't have heard of (Image: FreedomMaster/Getty Images)

Fruits like pitanga, Monstera fruit, small Madeiran bananas, and extra sweet passion fruits are all available in abundance. Many stallholders also offer free samples - so you can experience the unique offerings firsthand.

While Funchal is a beautiful city, the rest of Madeira can't be missed when you're on the island. The island itself is actually the top of a shield volcano, and its size and location means there are countless mini-climates among the mountains and valleys.

Madeira is home to several climates that change rapidly (Image: Leeuwtje/Getty Images)

On top of that, most of the island's nature walks follow a Levada. The Levadas were how initial settles brought water from the North to the South of the Island, and the ever-flowing troughs are still in use today.

The uniqueness of Madeira is best explored by Jeep tour. The Skywalk, Fanal & Porto Moniz Pools 4x4 Tour has been named one of the best ways to see the island on Tripadvisor.

Most of the island's walks follow a levada as they transport water to the South (Image: Paul Biris/Getty Images)

With hotel pickup included, a guide will drive you and your small group up through the treacherous roads on the island, with regular stops to marvel at exotic plants and waterfalls.

The stops include Porto Moniz volcanic pools, where you get time to swim, a glass bridge at one of the highest points of the island, and the mystical Fanal forest, which is always immersed in a fairytale-like fog.

Reviewers all rave about the fun provided by the tour guides. When I was showed around by Gil, he made the experience unforgettable - because how can you forget driving under a waterfall in an open-top Jeep while your local guide hoots maniacally?

The volcanic pools in Porto Moniz allow you to swim in the otherwise brutal waters (Image: pawel.gaul/Getty Images)

Madeira has plenty of culinary offerings too. They're famous for Poncha, a rum drink made with local rum, orange juice, and fresh honey. If you end up in a hole-in-the-wall, make sure to order the scabbard fish with bananas - it sounds weird, but it's a local delicacy and works surprisingly well.

The top-rated restaurant on the island is Bistrot Des Anges. They serve modern Mediterranean food, with dishes like green risotto with prawns and s wordfish fillet in tapenade.

Bistrot Des Anges have no negative comments on Tripadvisor. One former diner said: " Another fabulous meal, well presented and excellent food. The service is first class. The scabbard fish is amazing, and the homemade chips are to die for. You must visit this restaurant."

Madeira grows so many bananas their national dish pairs them with fish (Image: pkazmierczak/Getty Images)

How to get there

According to Skyscanner, direct Ryanair flights from Stansted to Cristiano Ronaldo Airport (he was born in Funchal) start at £42 for a round trip. Prices are correct at the time of writing. You can see accommodation options on Booking.com and Hotels.com.

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Woman charged after four children died in Sutton house fire

A woman has been charged with manslaughter after four children were killed in a fire in South London. The fire killed four brothers in Sutton in December 2021.

Deveca Rose, 29, has also been charged with child abandonment contrary to the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. She will appear at court charged with four counts of manslaughter.

She will appear at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Monday. Two sets of twin brothers – Leyton and Logan Hoath, aged three, and Kyson and Bryson Hoath, aged four – died after the fire at an address in Collingwood Road, Sutton, on December 16 2021.

READ MORE: Woman wakes to find stranger sat next to her in her Croydon home with his trousers down

Photos show fire crew and medics in attendance at Collingwood road, Sutton (Image: UKNIP)

The two sets of twins died in the fire despite frantic efforts to save them. The London Fire Brigade sent 60 firefighters in eight fire engines to the devastating house fire.

They arrived at the house at 6.55pm on the evening in 2021, three minutes after being alerted. The four children were brought out of the home and given immediate CPR by firefighters at the scene.

The boys were rushed to two hospitals where they were pronounced dead. At the time of the blaze London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe said: “This is an incident that has left everyone numb with profound sadness.

"My thoughts are with the family and friends of the children, the whole local community and all those who will be affected by this fire. Fire crews arrived quickly and located the children inside the property.

"They were brought out of the house and given immediate emergency care. The welfare of our staff involved in this incident is very important to us and all of them will be offered counselling as a priority.”

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