20 June 2023 , 14:50
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A doting couple due to be married next year were tragically killed in a fire while renovating their forever home.
Rebecca Foster, 32, and her fiancé Kieran Naylor, 33, were pulled from a blaze at their house in Daresbury, Cheshire last December.
They both suffered serious injuries, and were rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Sadly, Rebecca died two days later, followed by Kieran two weeks later.
An inquest into their deaths has now heard how the couple, who had been together for 10 years, bought the home as a renovation project and were planning to marry in Cyprus next year.
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Rebecca's dad, John Foster, said: "They were massively in love. They spent all of their time together."
The couple were "massively in love" and due to marry next year (Liverpool Echo)
The pair were renovating their "forever home" (Liverpool Echo)The inquest in Warrington heard how the pair were renovating what was "meant to be their forever home", where they would live with their dog Skye and cat Nyla who were "like their children", reports the Liverpool Echo.
Mr Foster said they purchased the home in August 2021 and Mr Naylor, who was a cable jointer, was carrying out 90% of the work himself.
Some rooms in the property were "back to brick", and the garden was the only thing completed.
Mr Foster recalled police asking him to go to hospital, and being told that his daughter was "brain dead" with bruising and burns to her body.
He continued: "They were keeping her hooked on machines. It was that point we knew she was going to die."
Kieran's dad, Paul Naylor, described the couple were "inseparable", saying they had celebrated their engagement in 2022 and were due to be married in 2024.
He recalled being told that his son was "seriously unwell and was likely to succumb to his injuries".
Kieran underwent three major operations, but tragically died on Boxing Day 2022.
Fire investigator Jonathan Hill previously told the inquest that a cause of the fire could not be determined due to the property being "unsafe" and the extensive damage caused.
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However, it was likely to have started in the ground floor lounge room or gaming room, which was under renovation.
Police and fire crews ruled out any third party involvement.
The hearing on Monday heard a statement from a senior paramedic who attended the scene.
A cause of the fire could not be determined due to the property being "unsafe" and the extensive damage caused (Liverpool Echo)He said orange flames "could be seen clearly" as well as a large police and fire presence.
From police and paramedic evidence, the inquest heard that Rebecca and Kieran were both pulled from the building from the first-floor bedroom window.
Kieran was "unresponsive" and unable to breathe on his own for around 30 minutes.
Following their deaths, tributes were shared for Rebecca and Kieran who were described as the "perfect couple".
Kieran's family said: "Kieran really was the best son, brother and uncle that anyone could have wished for and he will be sorely missed by everyone who had the pleasure to have known him.
"Kieran and Rebecca are now reunited forever and they will always be in our hearts."
Rebecca's family said at the time: "Rebecca was a loving and caring daughter and our lives have been absolutely torn apart by her death.
"She and Kieran made the perfect couple, and the pair were planning to spend the rest of their lives together, but sadly they will never be able to fulfil their dreams."
Recording a narrative conclusion, the coroner said Rebecca suffered a hypoxic brain injury secondary to smoke inhalation after the house fire.
He said: "On December 13, Rebecca's condition deteriorated and brain stem tests confirmed very sadly she had passed away."
Kieran was resuscitated and rushed to Whiston Hospital with "extensive burns".
Mr Frodsham added that despite three operations, his condition rapidly deteriorated and he died on December 26.
The coroner gave a cause of death as multiorgan failure due to 60% of his body surface being covered in burns.
He told the families: "It must have been a terrible shock, while both were adults, they were still your children. As parents, we don't expect to lose our children.
"I'm very sorry this has happened and I hope you have some answers."