Father-to-be dead, pregnant partner burned in e-scooter battery caravan fire

A father-to-be has died while his pregnant partner was badly burned during a Queensland caravan fire that was believed to have been started by an e-scooter battery.

Blake Whell, 22, died in Brisbane about midday on Tuesday after being rushed to hospital in a critical condition with severe burns.

His father, Lloyd Bickle, told Nine News about his son’s final “heroic” act.

“He threw himself over the top of her to save her [his partner], and he took most of the burns,” Mr Bickle said.

Mr Whell’s 20-year-old partner, Tomeka Willis, was also rushed to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in a critical condition with severe burns.

She reportedly had an emergency caesarean on Tuesday afternoon and gave birth to the couple’s healthy baby boy. She had been eight months’ pregnant and remained in a critical condition.

Tomeka Willis, 20, is now a mother of three.Credit: Facebook

Ms Willis also has two other children – daughters aged three and less than one.

Emergency services were called to a home on Wilbur Street in Logan Central just after 11pm on Monday after reports that a caravan was on fire at the rear of the property.

“It has been alleged the fire occurred as a result of some sort of battery that might have caught on fire,” Queensland Ambulance Service medical director Stephen Rashford said. “There are allegations it potentially was a scooter, but we are not sure.”

It was believed the e-scooter battery was charging at the time.

Dr Rashford said both victims suffered “very significant burns” and were given resuscitation at the scene by paramedics.

Caravan fire victim Blake Whell.Credit: Logan House Fire Support Network

“Both patients were placed into induced comas due to the level of their injury,” Dr Rashford said.

A crime scene remained at the property and investigations continued, but police believed the incident was not suspicious.