Brave mum ’saved child’ during house fire that killed two others

A "very strong and motivated" mother reportedly saved her third child from a house fire in East Ham, London that killed her two other children and sent other family members to the hospital

Shell-shocked neighbours have revealed how a mother’s quick thinking saved one of her children from a devastating house fire that claimed the lives of the other two kids.

The family-of-six were all residents of a home on Napier Road, East Ham, when the fateful fire broke out at their home on Saturday. One child died at the scene, while a second child succumbed to their injuries overnight in hospital, and the rest four other members remain hospitalised - two adults and two children, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) confirmed. The emergency services said one of the children from the family still remains in critical condition. 

The incident took place on Saturday, July 13 just before 8.30 am when six fire engines and around 40 firefighters were called in to tackle the house fire. The fire damaged half of the first floor and half of the ground floor of the terraced house, was brought under control by 9:10 a.m.

The family-of-six lived in the home on Napier Road, East Ham ( Image: PA)

On Sunday, a fire engine and a police forensics van remained at the scene as investigations continued. Moroever, the cause of the fire is yet to be investigated by the fire service and the Metropolitan Police. 

The house had two windows and the front door glass smashed, and forensics teams in white suits entered the building and the neighbouring property.

Rida Nawaz, 28, neighbour and a family friend expressed the community’s shock: "We can’t believe this happened. There are no words to describe our feelings about them. My husband broke the upstairs window, I broke the front window. We just wanted to save them."

Shah, 37, Rida’s husband detailed the desperate efforts of Napier Road residents to break the windows with bricks to aid the family’s escape.

"Someone threw the big brick, the full brick, at the window but couldn’t break it. And the half brick, I hold in my hand, I threw it… to help the family because the mum – she was by the window," he said. 

"The dad, he came through the roof – after five, 10 minutes we saw on the corner the children came. We saw the police running up and using CPR, giving them CPR."

Another neighbour, Sabah Waheed, 35, who had known the mum for 10 years, described the mother of the deceased children as a "very strong and motivated mum," who had saved her third child by sending her upstairs.

"She was a very strong lady, always looking after her children, very strong and motivated mum and this tragedy happened, I’m sure she must have tried her best to do something.

"She sent one child upstairs – she saved her life. But unfortunately, whatever happened three children were seriously burned. This is a very big loss for the local community and it’s very sad news among the friends."

Community members gathered outside, leaving flowers and notes in tribute. One note read, “so sorry for your terrible loss.”

The London Ambulance Service deployed ambulance crews, advanced paramedics, its Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), and an air ambulance to the scene.

Community members gathered outside, leaving flowers and notes in tribute ( Image: PA)

LFB assistant commissioner Patrick Goulbourne expressed his condolences: “This is a terribly sad incident and the thoughts of all of us at London Fire Brigade are with the family, friends and all those affected at this difficult time. Sadly, one child was pronounced dead at the scene yesterday morning, and overnight a second child died in hospital. Two other children and two adults were also taken to hospital, where the children and one adult remain in a serious condition.” 

Detective Chief Inspector Jonathan Burks acknowledged the impact on the community: “I appreciate that local people will be shocked and saddened by this tragic event. We share those sentiments and will do all we can, alongside LFB, the local authority, and other partners, to provide the family and local community with support and answers to their questions about this heart-breaking incident.”

The police added that inquiries are ongoing to identify and inform other family members. Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz shared her sorrow on X, formerly Twitter, stating she was “heartbroken” by the incident and that those affected were in her prayers. “It is just an unimaginable loss and my heart goes out to the parents,” she wrote.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the fire service and the Metropolitan Police, who noted that there is currently no evidence to indicate suspicious circumstances.

Thomas Brown