Girl, 10, and her father have been killed in caravan fireplace when ‘cellphone or digital pill malfunctioned’, inquest hears

A ten-year-old schoolgirl died alongside her father after the caravan they were staying in caught fire, likely caused by a faulty tablet or phone, an inquest has heard.

Esme Baker and her father Lee, 48, were both killed during the fatal blaze at Golden Beach Holiday Park in Lincolnshire in April.

An inquest into their deaths today heard the fire had been classed as ‘accidental’, with the cause ‘undetermined’ – but it is believed it could have been sparked by a device malfunctioning.

Esme was likely awake at the time the fire broke out, at around 3am on April 5, it was heard. 

Esme Baker, 10, was killed when the blaze broke out at a caravan park in Lincolnshire in April

He father father Lee Baker also died in the fire at Golden Beach Holiday Park, just five months after he purchased the caravan

The pair were on holiday at the caravan site in Ingoldmells.

Emergency services rushed to the scene shortly before 4am but neither Esme or her father could be saved. 

Coroner Tasker told the inquest: ‘Esme was sadly awake and breathing while exposed to a fire environment but she would have been rapidly overcome.’ 

The inquests into their deaths at Myles Cross Centre heard Mr Baker had first purchased the caravan in November last year. 

The past few weekends before the tragedy he had stayed at the holiday park with his daughter. 

Coroner Lindsey Tasker said that two separate inquests are taking place into the deaths and they will come to separate conclusions.

Both Esme and Mr Baker’s cause of death were given as inhalation of the products of combustion, most likely smoke. 

A toxicology report found Mr Baker had 172mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood at the time of his death – but despite this being twice the legal driving limit, he would not be considered drunk, it was heard.

This is a breaking news story and is being updated.