An Australian influencer, Caitlin Lyndon, popularly known as “fitmum” online, has shared her shock and distress after her Melbourne home was firebombed in what police believe was a targeted attack while she was holidaying in Bali.
The Attack
Victorian police told news.com.au the fire in Sandhurst, 37 km southeast of Melbourne’s CBD, was considered “suspicious”.
Emergency services responded to reports of a house fire on Malua Circuit, with at least two people fleeing the scene in a dark coloured hatch about 2am.
No one was inside the house at the time of the blaze.
A short time later, police responded to reports of an abandoned car on fire in a street approximately five minutes away. Investigators are working to determine if the two incidents are linked.
Influencer’s Reaction
Ms Lyndon, who is a mum of one and an OnlyFans creator, said her home had been so badly damaged she “literally fell on the floor” when she heard the news.
The influencer, who has 84,000 followers on Instagram, told The Daily Telegraph that she was struggling to understand why her home had allegedly been targeted in the arson attack.
“I cannot fathom that somebody would do this to me,” she told the outlet. “Everyone has enemies … I think everyone pisses people off in every life, but I would never imagine having pissed people off enough to have your personal home lit on fire where you and your son’s belongings are.”
The Aftermath
Ms Lyndon took to social media in a rant and lashed out at the alleged attackers, labelling them as “f***ing rats” despite not knowing who could be responsible.
Police have said that an arson chemist will attend the scene but encourages anyone with information that could assist police to come forward.
Ms Lyndon had only recently moved into the home just two months ago, but the fire damage has made the property now “uninhabitable”.
“I lost everything. People can hate and say I’m just in Bali and living life, but this is the worst experience of my life,” she said.
The Impact on Her Family
Ms Lyndon is grateful her family is safe, as belongings and furniture can be replaced, but family can’t. “I’ve never wanted to hold my baby so tight in all my life. True friends and families’ colours are shown in times like this,” she said.