A mum-of-three who tragically died after catching fire at home may have been covered in ‘an accelerant of some type’, an inquest has heard.
Shipli Begum, 48, went up in flames at her home on Newham Way in East London on Wednesday, August 28, prompting her daughter to call emergency services, Walthamstow Coroner’s Court heard at an inquest opening today.
Senior Coroner Graeme Irvine said police were called to the terraced house in East Ham at around 1pm, followed shortly after by paramedics from the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance.
‘It was swiftly discovered she had suffered severe burns,’ said Mr Irvine, adding: ‘It was believed an accelerant of some type was used to cause the fire.’
Ms Begum was taken to the specialist burns centre at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, Essex, then immediately transferred to intensive care, though sadly in worse shape than paramedics had thought.
A police cordon outside of Ms Begum’s house where she was found on fire last month
Shipli Begum died in hospital from her burns after police and paramedics were called to her home
‘Her burns were far more serious than initially believed and it was determined that a high proportion of her skin was damaged by burn injuries,’ said Mr Irvine.
The court heard doctors withdrew medical support at 6.27pm and Ms Begum was declared dead at 8.35pm.
The case was transferred from the Essex Coroner’s Court back to East London, where ‘given the circumstances of her death’ Mr Irvine ordered a forensic post-mortem conducted by a Home Office pathologist on Monday, September 2. The cause of death, they concluded, was 1a Burns.
Mr Irvine said ‘it’s very clear Ms Begum’s death is an unnatural death’ as he agreed to open a full inquest, set to take place in March 2025. But, he warned, the date could change due to the ongoing criminal investigation. Mr Irvine said the senior investigating officer in the case had been in constant contact, and that he would decide how to proceed without prejudicing the enquiry.
The coroner listed Ms Begum’s family, the Metropolitan Police, her GP, the London Ambulance Service, London’s Air Ambulance, and the pathologist as interested persons for the eventual inquest. ‘The inquest is now open,’ he added.
Horrified neighbours had reported that Ms Begum had been seen fleeing her home on fire screaming for help.
One of her neighbours on Newham Way, East Ham, Imran Syed, 46, was about to eat when he heard her begging for help.
He rushed outside by which time Ms Begum had returned indoors and was lying on the floor with her husband Mohammed Ahad pouring water over her.
A 55-year-old man was initially arrested on suspicion of attempted murder but was rearrested on suspicion of murder after the victim died. police have said
After seeing smoke Mr Syed said he entered the house where ‘She was completely burned, she was not moving or anything,’ he said.
Mr Syed then took their children outside, and firefighters arrived around one minute later.
Another neighbour, Mohammed Ali, heard Ms Begum screaming, then looked outside to see Mr Ahad shouting his wife’s name and trying to cover her with a fire blanket.
He believes she ran outside for around 20 seconds to stop the rest of the terraced house catching alight.
After her husband covered her with the blanket, Mr Ali says she was able to walk back in with him.
‘Her clothes got burned off,’ Mr Ali said, adding: ‘It was very traumatising… The first couple of days was very traumatising.’
Neighbours said the family had just moved to London from Walsall, near Birmingham, around three months ago.
Maureen French, 83, said Ms Begum was ‘a very nice lady’ as she described her ‘shock’ at the incident. ‘I do not know much, except she was very nice.’
A 55-year-old man was initially arrested on suspicion of attempted murder but was rearrested on suspicion of murder after the victim died.
‘He is currently on bail pending further enquiries,’ the spokesperson added. The force has previously said the arrested man was ‘known to the deceased’ and ‘no one else is sought’, police told MyLondon.
In an earlier statement, the force said: ‘The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a woman in Newham continues. Police were called to an address on Newham Way, E6 at 13:05hrs on Wednesday, August 28.
‘Officers attended alongside the London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade and found a 48-year-old woman with significant burn injuries. She was taken to hospital where she sadly died later the same day. Her family are aware and are being supported by specially trained officers.’
The London Fire Brigade said it sent three fire engines and 15 firefighters, from Barking, Stratford and Leytonstone fire stations.
