A mother and her two young children have died following a horrific house fire that engulfed their Gloucestershire home in the early hours of Boxing Day, police have confirmed.
Desperate Rescue Attempts by Father
Emergency services were called to a property on Brimscombe Hill, near Stroud, at approximately 3am on 26 December. The father, who survived the blaze, is a serving officer with Gloucestershire Police. He was awoken by the fire alongside his wife and both attempted to reach their children, a seven-year-old girl and a four-year-old boy, who were in a rear bedroom.
Detective Superintendent Ian Fletcher explained that the intensity of the flames prevented the couple from accessing the children's room. In a series of frantic efforts, the father smashed his way out through a bathroom window to try and reach the bedroom from outside, but was unsuccessful.
He then tried to re-enter via the bathroom window, but by that stage the fire had taken hold there too. Undeterred, he went downstairs and attempted to force his way back in through both the front and back doors, but was ultimately beaten back by the ferocious fire.
Scene of Devastation and Ongoing Investigation
The fire, which is believed to have started on the ground floor, caused catastrophic damage to the mid-terrace Cotswold stone cottage. The roof collapsed inwards and the ceilings and stairs were destroyed. The body of a woman in her 40s has been recovered, while the body of a child has been located at the scene.
Det Supt Fletcher stated that the incident is not currently being treated as suspicious and appears to be a "tragic accident." Investigations by fire and police authorities are ongoing to establish the exact cause.
A Community in Mourning
Speaking at a press conference outside Gloucestershire Police headquarters, Det Supt Fletcher described the profound anguish of the surviving father. "We have multiple witnesses who describe the anguish that he was going through, his inability to get in and save his children and save his wife," he said.
"He is, as you can imagine, in a very distraught way. Sadly, lost his family at a time which is supposed to be a happy festive period." The detective extended the force's heartfelt condolences to their colleague, his family, and all who knew the victims, emphasising the close-knit nature of the police community.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the local area of Stroud, with emergency services highlighting the devastating speed and power of the fire which overwhelmed the family's home.
