Coroner calls for action after tumble dryer fire kills father and daughter

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 09:58 · Archive

A coroner has raised concerns about a Hoover tumble dryer model after a father and nine-year-old daughter died in a house fire. Sohaib Ahmed, 38, and his daughter Manahal, nine, died following a blaze at their home in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, on 8 June 2025. Firefighters were called to Russell Close after a neighbour reported smoke. Sohaib was found unresponsive in the kitchen and given CPR at the scene, where he died at 7.02am. Manahal was found upstairs in a bedroom and rushed to hospital, where she later died. Her sister was also injured but survived after extensive treatment.

An inquest opened by HM Senior Coroner Martin Fleming found that the fire was most likely caused by a DX C10DCER-80 Hoover branded condenser tumble dryer, though the specific mechanism and circumstances of ignition remain undetermined. The coroner was unable to determine whether the ignition resulted from tracking, a defective solder joint, heater relay failure or another internal electrical failure.

In his Prevention of Future Deaths report, Mr Fleming raised significant concerns. He said the Office for Product and Safety Standards had received a number of product fire notifications involving this model. He expressed particular concern that 1.6 million of current Hoover and Candy branded condenser or vented tumble dryers may share this model's characteristics.

The coroner noted that two experts described how this type of tumble dryer may burn almost completely once the fire becomes established, making later identification of the initiating defect extremely difficult. He said this raised concerns that "unless the model and any wider product safety implications are further examined, circumstances creating a risk of future deaths may continue".

How it is being reported

• Tumble dryer safety fears raised by coroner after death of father and daughterA coroner has raised concerns about the safety of a Hoover tumble dryer following the death of a father and his nine-year-old daughter in a fire.Telegraph & Argus · 21 Oct, 09:36
• Tumble dryer safety fears raised by coroner after death of father and daughter in West Yorkshire“The above raises concerns that unless the model… and any wider product safety implications are further examined, circumstances creating a risk of future deaths may continue. “Yorkshire Post · 21 Oct, 09:21
• Coroner's fatal tumble dryer fire demand as 'inherent risk' models taken off shelvesHeckmondwike dad and daughter double-fatal tumble dryer fire latest as coroner demands answers over 'inherent risk' productsHuddersfield Examiner · 21 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Sohaib Ahmed · Manahal Ahmed · Martin Fleming · Heckmondwike · West Yorkshire · Hoover · Office for Product and Safety Standards

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