A Gloucestershire father has been left with "nothing" after a horrific Boxing Day fire claimed the lives of his wife and two young children.
A Desperate Attempt to Save His Family
Police officer Tom Shearman was woken by the blaze at the family's mid-terrace Cotswold stone cottage near Stroud in the early hours of 26 December. He and his wife, Fionnghuala, immediately tried to reach their children, seven-year-old Eve and four-year-old Ohner, who were in a rear bedroom.
Detective Superintendent Ian Fletcher of Gloucestershire Constabulary detailed the harrowing efforts. "They have been unable to get to the bedroom due to the voracity of the fire," he said. Mr Shearman then smashed a bathroom window in a bid to access the children's bedroom from outside, but was unable to enter. His subsequent attempts to re-enter the property via the bathroom and both the front and back doors were thwarted as the fire took hold.
The Aftermath and Investigation
Emergency services arrived at the scene at around 3am to find the property engulfed. The fire, which is believed to have started downstairs, was so severe it caused the roof, ceilings, and stairs to collapse.
The body of a woman, believed to be Mrs Shearman, was recovered from the building. The body of a child was also located but remains in situ as investigations continue. Authorities have stated the cause of the fire is under investigation but is not being treated as suspicious.
Community Rallies to Support Grieving Father
Friends of the family have described the tragedy as "absolutely shocking" and said the community is "shellshocked." In response, friend Victoria Armstrong has set up a GoFundMe page to provide practical support for Mr Shearman.
"Tom is now facing an unimaginable period of grief alongside the very real and immediate practical reality of having nothing left," Armstrong said. The fund aims to help with emergency accommodation, clothing, essentials, time off work, and unexpected costs, allowing him to focus on grieving without financial pressure.
Fionnghuala Shearman was the founder of bespoke handbag manufacturer Hide & Hammer, which created fashion accessories from leather and canvas. The family's sudden loss has sent waves of sorrow through the local community.
