Tragic Death of Beloved Pub Landlady
A much-loved pub landlady, Ann Michelle 'Annie' Male, died in a devastating house fire at her country inn, an inquest has concluded. The 58-year-old succumbed to smoke inhalation after a blaze, sparked by a freak explosion from her cordless vacuum cleaner's battery, tore through the Fighting Cocks Inn in Stottesdon, Shropshire.
The Devastating Incident and Rescue Efforts
Emergency services were alerted to the fire on 14 July at approximately 6.52pm after neighbours reported smoke billowing from a window. Firefighters forced their way into the property and, battling thick black smoke, located the fire's origin in a bedroom using a thermal imaging camera. They discovered Mrs Male unresponsive on the floor.
Despite immediate CPR from fire crews and continued efforts by paramedics upon their arrival, Ann Male was pronounced dead at 7.40pm. Ross Donnelly from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service stated his belief that the fire was accidental, caused by an explosion in the battery of a Vax Blade cordless vacuum cleaner.
Inquest Findings and Battery Dangers
The hearing at Shropshire Coroners Court in Shrewsbury was presented with a report commissioned by Vax. Senior coroner John Ellery noted the independent report could not confirm if the exploded battery was a genuine Vax product, though Mrs Male's partner insisted it was original.
A solicitor for Vax informed the court that all their batteries are manufactured to international standards and undergo rigorous testing, adding there was no pattern of manufacturing defects. Mr Donnelly's report suggested the battery entered a state of 'thermal runaway', leading to the explosion.
Coroner Ellery concluded that the cause of the catastrophic battery failure was inconclusive due to its post-explosion condition, but he officially recorded a verdict of accidental death. He issued a stark warning, stating: "This inquest does highlight the dangers of batteries that can explode, whether they are charging or not."
Heartfelt Tributes to a Life Cut Short
The inquest heard moving tributes to Annie Male, who was described as "the life and soul of every room she entered" and a "deeply loving" person. Originally from Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, she had fulfilled a lifelong dream by taking over and revitalising the Fighting Cocks Inn.
Her daughter, Georgia Higgins, paid a heartfelt tribute, describing her mother as the glue that held their family together. She shared how her mother had "transformed" the pub, breathing new life into both the venue and the village, and had adored the country life. "She is missed by so many; the world is undoubtedly a darker place without her light," her statement concluded.
