Neighbours Left Heartbroken as They Try to Save Child’s Life
A sense of devastation has engulfed the community of Meadow Springs, a suburb of Mandurah, south of Perth, after a deadly house fire claimed the life of a young boy under the age of five on Sunday afternoon.
The blaze, which started around 2 pm, has left neighbours and emergency services shaken, with many struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.
Desperate Efforts to Save the Child
Neighbours, who were among the first to respond to the emergency, have spoken of their desperate attempts to save the boy’s life. Loretta Westcott, who lived nearby, was one of the first to try and help. “I just kept talking to him and telling him, ‘hang in there buddy,'” she said, her voice still shaking with emotion. “I told him, ‘Mum needs you, dad needs you. Santa’s coming, he wants to see you.’ They just kept working on him, and then they took him in the ambulance.”
“Hell on Earth” – Neighbours Describe the Scene
Ms. Westcott described the conditions at the scene as “hell on earth.” “The tiles were cracking, and they could see the flames were coming up through the roof,” she said. “They got here as quick as they could, and I just told them there was a child inside. You couldn’t even see the flames, the smoke was so black. It was like hell on earth, I’ve never seen anything like that before in my life, and I never want to see it again.”
Two Other Children Treated for Smoke Inhalation
Two other children were taken to hospital and treated for smoke inhalation, but fortunately, they are expected to make a full recovery. The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the community, with many struggling to come to terms with the loss of a young life.
Detective’s Plea for Family Support
Detective First Class Constable Tiarna Eades described the death as “even more tragic” given the time of year. “Losing anyone, especially a child, can be very confronting,” she said. “As police officers, we are just here to make sure the family are very well supported from here on in.”
Fire Officials Urge Festive Season Safety
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services district officer, Andrew Seuren, said officers faced challenging conditions at the scene. “The house fire was too intense for even the public to get close to when they arrived,” he said. Mr. Seuren urged residents to keep fire safety in mind over the festive season. “We just want to make sure everyone has a safe Christmas and wakes up into a house every morning that hasn’t burnt down that night.”
Investigation Underway
The fire is not being treated as suspicious, but investigators from the Arson Squad were at the home on Monday to help determine what started the blaze. A report will be prepared for the coroner.
As the community comes to terms with this devastating tragedy, our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the young boy who lost his life. Let’s take a moment to appreciate the importance of fire safety and ensure that we all take necessary precautions to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
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