My model girlfriend died in horror flat fire – I couldn’t save her and think about it everyday
THE GRIEVING boyfriend of a model killed in a horror e-bike flat blaze has told how he tried to battle through flames to save her.
Luis Zambrano, 21, was forced to jump out of a window naked when smoke billowed through his flat on Old Kent Road, south London.
A fireball erupted through their home when on New Year's Day 2023 when a dodgy electric bike battery exploded.
Luis and girlfriend Sofia Duarte, who would have turned 22 last month, were sleeping after finishing their shift at a club when the bike was being charged on the ground floor.
Speaking to The Sun, Luis told how he did everything he could to save the love of his life.
He explained: “I woke up half asleep. The first thing I felt was the heat. Then I started to hear my neighbours screaming and shouting my name.
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“I turned on the light and realised the room was filling with smoke. Only then did I properly wake up and realised a fire alarm was going off.
“I woke Sofia up and I went straight to the window. I started telling her there was no way out and we have to go out the window but she said she couldn’t. She said she couldn’t jump."
While Luis tried to undo the safety lock on their window, Sofia went running towards the stairs.
He said: “I ran straight after her but she had run towards the fire. It wasn’t like normal smoke. It was like the air was filled with battery acid. It was hot, painful to breathe.
“I went down some of the stairs but I couldn’t find her. I screamed and shouted her name but I was naked and the flames were unbearably hot. I was checking all along the floor with my feet. But I just could not find her.
“I don’t remember what happened next but the next thing I knew I was out of the building. I had jumped out the window down to the roof of the restaurant below my flat. It all happened so quickly.”
Luis was rushed to hospital where he was treated for smoke inhalation and had high levels of Carbon Monoxide in his blood.
Sofia was tragically found by firefighters in the hallway near to Luis' bedroom.
It has been set up by Sofia’s pal Alda Simoes, 46, who is urging Brits to be more careful when buying a bike or scooter.
She explained: “After Sofia died more people kept dying in the same way she did. We realised the government wasn’t doing anything about it and it was like a slap in the face every time.
“Last month it was Sofia’s birthday. She would have been 23. Her death should not be in vain.
“I knew Sofia for 11 years and every day it's more painful that she’s not here. We need to make a change so this doesn’t happen to more families.
“The converted bikes are the real problem. There are no regulations around them and people don’t even know what they’re buying.”
Luis added: “I keep seeing these batteries everywhere. People try to save money by buying the cheap ones but it could cost them - and everyone in their home - their lives.
“The biggest mistake that people make is leaving their e-bikes or e-scooters inside their front door.
Deputy Mayor for Fire and Resilience, Fiona Twycross, said: “Sofia’s death was a tragedy that should never have happened. I’m proud to support the tireless campaigning of her family and friends to ensure this tragedy is not repeated.
“With the growing popularity of e-bikes and e-scooters, I continue to call on the Government to urgently introduce a long overdue regulatory framework to improve safety.
“I also urge Londoners to follow the vital safety advice provided by London Fire Brigade’s #Chargesafe campaign which is helping to keep Londoners safe.”
E-BIKE SAFETY TIPS
There a number of ways you can reduce the risks when charging lithium batteries:
- Don’t block your exit with charging batteries or e-bike and e-scooters. If a fire breaks out, you won’t be able to safely leave your home. Store them in a shed or garage where possible
- Keep an eye out for warning signs that your battery might be failing and becoming a fire risk
- Never leave your battery to charge when you are out or whilst you sleep
- Make sure your battery and charger meet UK safety standards
- Use the correct charger for your battery, and make sure to buy from a reputable seller
- Let you battery cool before charging it
- Unplug your charger once the battery has charged
- Fit smoke alarms in the area where you charge your batteries
The Brigade’s Assistant Commissioner for Fire Safety, Charlie Pugsley, said: “We’re warning people that cheaper parts bought online are more likely to be unsafe, increasing the risk of a fire. We always recommend purchasing items from a reputable high-street seller.
“If there’s an offer that seems too good to be true, it probably is. It’s also essential to use the correct charger for the battery, otherwise the risk of fire is much greater.
“The Office for Product Safety and Standards are undertaking research into e-bike fires, but the outcomes from this research need to be released as soon as possible.
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“Conversion kits for e-bikes are a real area of concern for us and there is a need to understand the safety of the product, and whether any specific standards need to be introduced.
“Along with conversion kits, batteries and chargers also require much-needed legislation to ensure these products are more strictly regulated.”