Man dies from serious burns after flat fire

A 30-year-old man from Hackney has died from serious burns sustained during a fire at a flat yesterday.

The police were called at 2.38pm on Wednesday (May 18) to reports of an explosion on the second floor of Wicklow House, Stamford Hill.

The man was taken to an unnamed central London hospital with serious burn injuries. He was later transferred to a specialist burns unit in Essex, where he died at 10.27pm last night.

His next of kin has been informed and a spokesperson from the Metropolitan Police told ELL: “A post-mortem examination will take place in due course.”

The 30-year-old was one of four men who were found with burns. The remaining men, a 29-year-old and two 28-year-olds were taken to an east London hospital after being treated at the scene by London Ambulance Service crews.

A Met spokesperson said: 
“One of the injured 28-year-old men and the 29-year-old man remain in a critical condition. The other injured man remains in a stable condition.”

The London Fire Brigade, Hatzola Emergency Medical Service, London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance were also called to the scene.

Fire crews from Hornsey, Leyton, Tottenham and Walthamstow fire stations attended the incident. A total of four fire engines and 21 firefighters dealt with the fire, which was under control by 4.21pm yesterday (May 18).

A spokesperson from the Fire Brigade told ELL: “The blaze badly damaged a flat on the second floor of a five storey block.”

A number of residents in the block of flats have were evacuated and placed into emergency accommodation overnight.

The police are now appealing for information and witnesses, as detectives from Hackney CID are investigating the cause of the fire.

Detective Inspector Paul Ridley from Hackney CID said: “An investigation has been launched to establish the circumstances of this incident. I would request that anyone who can provide any further information, who witnessed the explosion or the immediate aftermath to contact my investigation team.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Hackney CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org.

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