'Like an explosion' Clayton-le-Woods schoolboy Cole Leighton-Taylor, 11, died after e-bike blaze | Inquest

An inquest into the death of an 11-year-old schoolboy who spent 21 weeks in hospital following a house fire has been adjourned so the family can ask questions of the care he received in intensive care.

Cole Leighton-Taylor died on May 29 this year, having spent months in critical condition when an e-bike battery ignited inside his home in Clayton-le-Woods, near Chorley.

He suffered significant burns across his entire body as well as smoke inhalation but continued to defy the odds as he underwent more than 70 visits to theatre and at various points was communicating with his family and hospital staff before his condition tragically deteriorated in May.

An inquest into his death was held at Preston Coroners Court on Thursday (15 October) where the youngster was described as a loving and much loved boy who was a popular and talented sportsman.

Summing up a statement from Cole’s mum Kim, area coroner Emma Mather said it was clear that he was an amazing young boy. She said: “He was the family cuddler. He was always the one who would make sure everyone was OK. He loved his family and friends.”

As well as football and outdoor activities like fishing and making dens, Cole enjoyed gaming and phone calls with his friends. He was also a keen singer who sang along to the likes of Ed Sheeran, Lewis Capaldi, Cian Ducrot, and Adele.

Continuing to read from Kim’s statement, Ms Mather said: “He dreamed of playing professional football. He was captain of his team Charnock Richard and was captain of his school team. When he started high school he also made the team there […] He had an infectious personality. He was funny, loyal and was a little banter king.”

The inquest heard that on the night of January 6, Kim was going to bed when she noticed a spark which she first thought was some kind of firework. She then realised it was inside the house and coming from the battery of an e-bike. Although there were no flames at first, the sparks were large and spread quickly.

Referring to CCTV footage of the fire which was not shown at the hearing, Ms Mather said: “It’s shocking just how quickly it takes over. It’s like an explosion.”

In response to the outbreak, Kim woke Cole’s dad Craig and attempted to get the children out of the house, with the plan of climbing through a bedroom window onto the porch roof. Two of the kids jumped from a window and one onto the roof but when Kim turned to help Cole out he had moved.

He was then seen moving downstairs by those who were outside and a neighbour, named in the coroners’ court as Mitchell, joined one of Cole’s brothers in going inside to rescue him.

Together, they were able to drag him outside and away from the house and he was taken to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. The ambulance sent for Cole had suffered a flat tyre so Kim insisted he was sent in the one designated for her instead. During the journey in the ambulance, during which he was accompanied by his dad and was still responsive enough that he was mocking the driver about him being a Liverpool fan.

Dr Samantha McNally, a burns surgeon with Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, told the inquest that Cole has suffered deep burns to 95% of his body and arrived at the hospital with soot in his airways.

While he was able to be responsive initially, the damage had already started. She explained that such damage to the skin has further effects internally which include increased heart rate, fallen blood pressure, kidney damage and impacts on the lungs.

According to Dr McNally, the internationally recognised assessment of burns gave him just a 12% chance of survival. Skin grafts had to be created from two sources, including from a pioneering Canadian lab which was not otherwise available in the UK, and over time doctors had managed to replace around 68% of his skin. Although it didn’t affect Cole’s death as his surgeons had made extraordinary efforts to obtain the grafts, Ms Mather indicated she may issue a prevention of future deaths report to express concern over the lack of availability of such skin grafts in the UK.

Ms Mather noted that while Cole appeared to be defying the odds but remained in a precarious condition at all times and that it “wouldn’t take an awful lot to shift that balance”. Ms McNally agreed with that assessment while describing him as an “amazingly resilient young man”. His deterioration was then rapid as the prolonged pressure took its toll on Cole’s liver which ultimately stopped working and led to his death.

In terms of determining a medical cause of death, Dr McNally suggested that the fact the fire came from an e-bike battery should be included.

She said: “You can see how quickly the e-bike batteries ignite but they also give off chemicals – fluorine in the chest can become hydrofluoric acid and cause quite significant damage in the lungs and make the inhalation injuries much more significant.”

Asked about the sudden nature of his deterioration, the surgeon said she did not believe there was anything else which could have been done to save him: “He had been so resilient that while clinical knowledge tells you there’s always that risk he could die any day, we’d all become used to his resilience.

“I think his sudden deterioration did take us all off guard but I think we explored everything, we spoke to the liver unit, we got all the help they could, we scanned to make sure it was not obstructed, we explored surgery. He was on maximum blood support and unfortunately his liver just continued to deteriorate.”

After discussions with Dr Mcnally, Ms Mather said she was considering recording the primary medical cause of death as burn damage and inhalation injury caused by lithium ion battery fire. Liver failure and sepsis were suggested as secondary causes.

Some 15 members of Cole’s family attended the hearing and while they indicated they were happy with the treatment given by the burns team, they said they had concerns over the care given by those working in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Among the issues raised by Kim were an incident in Cole’s final days when a change of his noradrenaline medication was carried out and saw his blood pressure go down. She said that he should have been more closely monitored during this and that she had to press the emergency button to gain a response.

In a statement which had been given as a result of earlier discussions of this issue, consultant Dr Kathryn Wood has explained the dose Cole was receiving was exceptionally high and that there would naturally be a drop during the changeover period. Dr Wood has also said in her evidence that a delay in receiving a blood transfusion did not contribute to Cole’s death and that he was not given a medical overdose as his family feared.

However, as it became apparent the family had many more concerns and questions about the ICU care received which could not be answered by Dr McNally, who had not been involved in this aspect, Ms Mather said it was necessary to adjourn the hearing and reconvene with another member of hospital staff present. The coroner said she would aim to have the rest of the inquest take place before the end of the year.

After Cole’s death, an outpouring of grief and support was felt across the community. More than £7,000 was raised in a fundraising campaign for his funeral and a balloon release was held at his football club in his memory. In a statement, Charnock Richard FC said his death had left a “profound void in our club”.

“Cole had been a part of our club since he was just four years old, growing up alongside his teammates and capturing the hearts of everyone who knew him.

“There are no words to adequately express the grief we are all feeling. He was a true leader on and off the pitch and a much-loved member of our football family – full of life, talent and joy. Our thoughts, prayers, and deepest condolences are with his mum Kim, his dad Craig, and all of his family, friends, and teammates.”

Kelly Harrison, a family friend who also lives on Greenwood who has been helping to raise funds to support the family, told Blog Preston after his death: “Everyone who knew Cole knew how loving and caring he was. He could sense if you were down and with his beautiful smile, cheeky laugh and big warm hugs, you would always feel better again.

“Kim being the mum she is, as soon as she opened her eyes she had to be with her boy. Both Kim and Craig did not leave Cole’s bedside all while recovering herself. Against all the odds, Cole kept on fighting and managed to pull through all 73 theatre visits.

“He was due to finish his final skin treatment on the 19 June where he had skin made for him from his cells in Canada. With that it was absolutely devastating that an issue with his liver unfortunately got too much and Cole so sadly passed away surrounded by them.

“This will be a very sad day for many but also an opportunity for Cole’s loved ones to come together and give him the most amazing send off that he deserves.

“It’s heartbreaking for the family, no parent should have to say goodbye to a child, the family are loved so very much and as a community we have all come together to try and help them through this awful time.

MUM’S TRIBUTES

In a tribute following Cole’s death earlier this year, mum Kim said: “On 7th August 2014 you came into our lives - on 29th May 2026 you left us.

“My heart is broken, life's so cruel. You deserved so much more Cole. I don’t know why we were chosen to go through this, but one thing I do know Cole is you’re the bravest, strongest boy we will ever know! My little warrior.

“We'll be forever proud of you. Thank you for fighting so hard for us.

“I won't ever stop loving you, I’m so glad I got to be your mummy.”

Heartbroken mum Kim pictured with Cole has announced the devastating news that he has passed away | Kim Leighton

She added: “You said I was your lucky star, now you are mine. Shine bright my baby boy. We love you more than you'll ever know. Sleep tight Princey pants.

“FOREVER 11.”