By STEWART WHITTINGHAM, REPORTER and NOOR QURASHI, NEWS REPORTER
Published: | Updated:
An 11-year-old boy died five months after he was pulled from a fire caused by a sudden e-bike battery explosion, an inquest has heard.
Cole Leighton-Taylor suffered severe burns and was forced to undergo 70 operations following the blaze at his home near Chorley in Lancashire on January 6.
He was pulled from the wreckage by his two brothers and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Cole's mother, Kim Leighton, who was also injured in the blaze at the property in Clayton-le-Woods, told the hearing it had started as a 'tiny fire that just went up'.
She said: 'It was a battery fire on an e-bike that was alight. The sparks were huge and I knew I had to get everyone out.'
Ms Leighton added her son, who was a keen footballer, had 'defied the odds' as he fought for his life in hospital.
She said: 'Despite everything that was thrown at him, he gave his all.'
Coroner Emma Mather said CCTV footage showed the fire was 'like an explosion'.
Cole Leighton-Taylor (pictured) suffered severe burns and was forced to undergo 70 operations following the blaze at his home near Chorley in Lancashire on January 6
He is pictured here with his mother, Kim Leighton, who was also injured in the blaze. She told the hearing it had started as a 'tiny fire that just went up'
Cole, who had been a keen footballer, 'was incredibly vulnerable to infection' and his condition was 'very precarious', the doctor said
Preston Coroner's Court heard Cole had suffered more than 90 per cent burns on his body.
Brain surgeon Samantha McNally said: 'This e-bike battery fire shows how quickly these batteries ignite but they give off chemicals that cause very significant inhalation injuries.
'There was also soot in his mouth as his father said there had been so much smoke.'
The doctor added Cole 'was incredibly vulnerable to infection' and his condition was 'very precarious' - but said he was 'an amazingly resilient young man'.
Cole's condition deteriorated when his liver failed and he died in Manchester Children's Hospital on May 29.
Ms McNally said: 'His deterioration was very acute and he was not as robust as he was before.
'He was the poorliest boy in the hospital.
'I think we had all got used to his resilience and so his deterioration took us all by surprise.'
Ms Leighton said: 'He dreamed of becoming a professional footballer. He was the family's cuddler. He had a beautiful, caring nature'
Paying tribute, Ms Leighton said Cole, who was captain of his under-12 team, had an 'infectious personality'.
She added: 'He dreamed of becoming a professional footballer.
'He was the family's cuddler. He had a beautiful, caring nature.'
His father Craig Taylor had said following his son's death that Cole was 'the bravest, strongest boy we will ever know'.
He added: 'My heart is broken, life is so cruel.'
The inquest was adjourned by the coroner and will continue at a future date so more medical experts can give input, following a request from Cole's family.