Stranger saves family after electric van bursts into flames and destroys home

07 October 2023 , 08:38

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Julie Hensby said she, 15-year-old son Jay, husband David and her twin daughters were lucky to survive the blaze (Image: CORNWALL LIVE/BPM MEDIA)

Strangers dashed to save the lives of a family after their electric van burst into flames amid a fire at their home in the middle of the night.

The three members of the public, who were driving past, screamed and banged on the Hensbys front door as the inferno spread. It woke up married couple Julie and David and, within seconds, they were charging around their home, saving their three children. They managed to grab Jay, 15, who is deaf and disabled, and twin daughters Summer and Aimee, nine, from upstairs late on Monday night.

And Julie, 44, thanks the strangers for saving her and her family's lives. She said: "We heard banging on the door and these people said 'fire, fire, get out, get out'... If it wasn't for them then this could have been a whole different story."

The first flames appeared from the family's van on the driveway (CORNWALL LIVE/BPM MEDIA)

Within 10 minutes, the blaze tore through the home near St Austell, Cornwall, and the family have now "lost everything". Mum-to-three Julie says the van's electric charging point was fitted by the front door and terrifyingly hampered their escape.

Neighbours were later forced to flee their homes as the inferno ripped through overhead electricity wires and set off explosions, Devon Live reports. The Hensbys are still in shock and face months in emergency accommodation until their home - charred by fire and smoke - can be sorted. A GoFundMe appeal has been started and donations are being accepted here.

Holiday family return to find everything they own - even cat - destroyed in fire

The property was engulfed 10 minutes after the family fled it (CORNWALL LIVE/BPM MEDIA)

"The neighbours all had to flee their houses as the van started to catch fire to the electrical wires and there were explosions going off as the fire took hold," Julie added. While the the first flames appeared to come from the van, there is no indication at this stage the vehicle started the fire. Cornwall Fire Service has launched a tier one investigation, saying one vehicle was destroyed and the fire had affected both floors and roof space of one home.

But Julie remains grateful for the support of the strangers driving past the home. She continued: "We realised just how lucky we are to be alive right now. These three strangers literally saved our lives. We want to thank them for saving our lives. We have nothing now."

Lisa Letcher