FATAL BLAZE
Little girl, 3, and her brother, 5, die four days after horror blaze ripped through their home and injured mum
A GIRL of three and her five-year-old brother have died four days after a horror house fire in Preston.
The two children tragically lost their fight for life in hospital after the blaze on Friday night, police said today.
3
3
Neighbours tried desperately to rescue the youngsters after hearing screams for help.
Hayden Wolstencroft and Demi-Lee Carroll, both 17, and family friend Gordon Simpson smashed through garden fences and climbed on top of a kitchen extension as they tried to save the family.
Firefighters then dashed into the inferno to get the children after their pregnant mum, who is in her 20s, leapt from a bedroom window.
The little ones were rushed into critical care with life-threatening injuries.
Read More on The Sun
Both were withdrawn from life support yesterday and tragically died.
Detective Chief Inspector Rach Higson, of Lancashire Police's Major Investigation Team, said this afternoon: "This tragic incident has resulted in two children sadly losing their lives.
"My thoughts, first and foremost, are with their loved ones at this time.
"Our enquiries into the cause of the fire are continuing."
Most read in The Sun
A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.
He was bailed, and then later released with no further action.
Neighbors last night spoke of their horror.
Demi-Lee, who helped rescue the mum from the blaze, said: “We really did try our best for the family and to hear the outcome regarding those babies is tragic.
“I can’t even explain the grief we feel and the love we actually have for those kids, even though we didn’t know them, we grew this love for them the minute we saw them.
Nikki, 33, was one of the first on the scene and wrapped the distraught mum in blankets.
She said: “She was conscious throughout and was just screaming ‘my children, my children.’
“Knowing that they have died has really messed me up.
“I constantly see what I saw that day with smoke pouring from the back of the house."
'SOBBING'
Nikki added: “The husband arrived while I was outside and he was in a right state.
“He was shouting and screaming but a lot of it was in a foreign language so I don’t know what he was saying.
“Then I heard him say ‘my wife!’ and he obviously thought she was still inside.
“I had to calm him down and tell him she was on the pavement.
“They rushed the children off to hospital and about twenty minutes later they took the mother in a wheelchair. She was just sobbing.”
It’s believed the family are originally from Romania and only moved to the street recently.
In a statement today, police said the children were withdrawn from "medical intervention" yesterday.
A file will be prepared for the coroner.
A spokesperson from the force added: "Our thoughts are with their loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.
"The children’s family continued to be supported by specially-trained officers.
"A joint investigation between police and the fire service to determine the cause of the fire is continuing."
Demi-Lee said the blaze is the "most horrific" thing she's ever seen.
TRAGEDY AS CHILDREN DIE
She and Hayden waited in hospital until 2am, while Gordon, who tried three times to get into the burning home, was treated for smoke inhalation.
The hero said the smoke was "unreal".
"I smashed in the window and pulled back the curtains," he said.
"I was screaming, 'Come here', but I don't know if they could understand or hear me.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Read More on The Sun
"Everything was black inside.
"I was overwhelmed by the smoke."
3
Topics