'Smokers be careful - skin creams are flammable'

"To lose Dad in such a horrific incident has been devastating for all of us. We really want to make sure this doesn't happen again."

David Skyers lost his father in a tragic fire and he wants to make sure no other family suffers from the same situation.

Cedric Sykers was using a type of skin cream that can be flammable, and while wheelchair-bound following a stroke, he was left smoking unsupervised at his care home.

The 69-year-old grandfather accidentally dropped his cigarette and became engulfed in flames - he died from his injuries three days later.

David Skyers said: "Skin creams like emollients are flammable and smokers have to be very careful.

"My Dad had few remaining pleasures in life following his stroke. He enjoyed writing poetry and smoking a cigarette.

"When he smoked, he needed to be supervised in case of an accident. He wasn't mobile and needed help to get around in his wheelchair.

"If he had passed away naturally, as upsetting as that would be, you can understand it. This is just not meant to happen."

David added: "To lose Dad in such a horrific incident has been devastating for all of us.

"We really want to make sure this doesn't happen again, so nobody else loses a much-loved father, grandfather and friend in such an awful way."

London Fire Brigade (LFB) has drawn attention to Mr Skyers' death after fires in care homes and supported living facilities reached a three-year high in December 2024, following an increase from 11 to 41 compared to the previous month.

Cedric Skyers died in a fire in a garden shelter at Bupa Manley Court, Brockley, in March 2016.

In 2022 Bupa was ordered to pay a record £1.04m after admitting failings relating to his death.

The private healthcare provider pleaded guilty to fire safety breaches and accepted that staff had failed to understand the risks of Mr Skyers' creams.

LFB prosecuted Bupa and said it was the "highest ever fine for fire safety breaches in the UK".

Assistant Commissioner Craig Carter said this harrowing case showed how failure to comply with fire safety regulations had fatal consequences.

He added: "Cedric was vulnerable and his death could have been avoided.

"Every resident should have a plan in place which accounts for their mobility, their use of cigarettes, flammable skin creams and oxygen equipment."

LFB said emollient creams are used to treat dry and itchy skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis and are commonly used to reduce bed sores related to limited movement.

Many contain flammable ingredients such as paraffin, petroleum or natural oils.

They are often used by older people with mobility issues, who are also the group most at risk in a fire.

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