Toxic smoke warning as man 'lucky to be alive' after power bank flat fire

A man who was rushed to hospital after a fire broke out in his flat caused by a phone power bank overheating has admitted he is "very lucky" after he breathed in "toxic" smoke. Kris Middleton was fast asleep when he was suddenly woken by a firein the hallway of his downstairs apartment in Benwell, Newcastle upon Tyne.

The 26-year-old had been charging his phone power bank overnight when the device overheated and started the fire, with thick smoke quickly filling the flat in the early hours of Friday, June 13. Mr Middleton, who had initially slept through the smoke alarms, quickly exited the flatand phoned the fire service.

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He recalls not being able to breathe and is now "scared" to go to sleep just in case something similar happens, Chronicle Live reports. "I was shocked when I left my room and saw that the hallway was on fire and the whole place was full of smoke," Mr Middleton said.

"I grabbed a towel and ran outside of my flat, and I immediately called the fire service to let them know.

"I just felt really lucky, as I had slept through the fire alarms and I don't know what I would have done if the smoke hadn't been enough to wake me up. I felt myself panicking a lot, and now I feel scared to go to sleep just in case.

"I left the building as quickly as possible, and I found out later that there was a gas pipe directly underneath the part of the hallway where the fire was, and I think that really emphasises just how lucky I am.

"I'm asthmatic, so when I couldn't breathe and was coughing loads just before 4am, I phoned for an ambulance and knew that something was wrong, and I was taken to the RVI hospital in Newcastle.

"When I arrived, I was treated for smoke inhalation and was also told that the black soot that went into my nose and mouth could have been toxic due to it being a power bank with a battery in it. I'm feeling much better now a week later which I'm really happy about."

Fire services across the country have previously warned people of the dangers of leaving a device on charge overnight.

Earlier this year Dorset & Wiltshire Fire Rescue Service said leaving a device such as a phone or power bank plugged in overnight can “cause the charger to overheat, potentially leading to a fire”.

Mr Middleton now wants to warn people of the danger of doing such a thing. "I would say to people that they should never charge anything overnight, you're better off just not taking the risk," he said.

"That flat is in a bit of a state and some of my sentimental stuff has been damaged, but I am still able to live in it and that is the main thing. It could have been so much worse, and I'm thankful that I'm still here to warn people."