Young man killed and pregnant woman critically injured in Logan Central caravan fire

A father has paid an emotional tribute to his son who died trying to shield his heavily pregnant partner from a horror caravan fire. The couple’s baby born was born on Tuesday afternoon.

A heavily pregnant woman whose partner died trying to shield her from a horror caravan fire has given birth to a baby boy while she remains in a critical but stable condition at the RBWH.

Blake Whell, 22, passed away in hospital about noon on Tuesday, after the caravan he was staying in with his partner, Tomeka Willis, caught alight and exploded in Logan Central about 11pm on Monday night.

The fire is believed to have been started by an E-Scooter.

Ms Willis was 35 weeks pregnant and her baby – a healthy boy – was delivered via caesarean on Tuesday afternoon, Logan House Fire Support Network confirmed.

Mr Whell’s father made an emotional plea to the community as he hailed his son a hero in the wake of his death.

Tomeka Willis and Blake Whell have been confirmed as the two victims in the Logan Central fire

“I’ve lost my boy and I may lose my daughter-in-law, who’s pregnant,” he said.

“They’re going to do a caesarean on her some time – there’s a good chance that I may lose her as well.

“My boy – he’s a hero. He threw himself over the top of her to save her and took most of the burns.”

The emotional father said about 95 per cent of his son’s body was burnt in the fire, as he urged those using electric scooters to “be careful” with batteries and chargers.

“Any of you people out there that’ve got E-Scooters, you be careful with these batteries and these chargers,” he said.

“I’ve just lost my son … Beware of these scooters, they’re dangerous, Please, I beg ya’s (sic). It’s all I have to say, be careful of these E-Scooters.” Mr Whell and Ms Willis were taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital suffering serious injuries after the blaze.

The local community is rallying to raise funds for Mr Whell’s funeral, after his family made the heartbreaking decision to switch off his life support.

Louie Naumovski from Logan House Fire Support Network said it has been a devastating morning for the Whell family

Funds can be donated here.

“Click the link to the donations page and use reference Blake, this way no fees or charges are sent to other platforms. Every dollar helps,” Mr Naumovski said.

According to Queensland Ambulance Service medical director, Dr Steven Rashford, multiple crews were sent to the scene where the couple both required significant resuscitation.

A crime scene was established following the inferno, and investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.

Police have confirmed the blaze is not suspicious, while they continue to investigate if a faulty E-scooter sparked the inferno.

It’s understood investigators seized the scooter from the home for evidence early Tuesday.

Neighbours woke up to cries for help after the blaze in Logan Central.

Around 11pm on Monday night, emergency services attended a Wilbur St address to find a caravan alight.

The aftermath of a fire in a caravan at Logan Central. Picture: Jacobbe McBride

Long-term neighbour Dennis Birt said he was woken up by a scream for help just after 11pm last night.

“By the time I went to my back door I could feel the heat from their caravan which was on fire,” he said.

“I came out here and heard someone screaming ‘help me, help me, help me.”

Mr Birt said there was a lot of crime in the area, however he has never seen anything like the fire.

“I don’t know if it was on purpose or not, I’m one to believe that if it was we would have heard arguments.

“I don’t think it was on purpose.”

Mr Birt said Ms Willis ran out across the road and alerted neighbours to the incident.

“By that stage she was basically naked and just wearing her underwear, she was clearly pregnant.”

Mr Birt said his main concern was the health and wellbeing of the two people injured in the fire.

The damage to the caravan.

A woman, who chose to remain anonymous, said the scene resembled an inferno during the four minutes the caravan was alight.

“It went up so fast, it was an inferno and it was ridiculous,” she said.