Five children and dad among 'six beautiful souls' killed in horror house fire

07 August 2023 , 05:50

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Wayne Godinet and his five sons, pictured, died in the house fire

Six family members - including five siblings - killed in a devastating house fire have been described as "six beautiful souls".

Wayne Godinet, 34, died alongside his twins Kyza and Koa, aged four, his three-year-old son Nicky, and his stepsons, Zack, 11 and Harry, 10, in the blaze, and have now been pictured for the first time since it happened.

The children's mother Samantha Stephenson, 28, and a 21-year-old female relative, believed to be Ms Stephenson's sister, managed to escape the smouldering property in Queensland, Australia. Police are yet to determine whether the blaze was suspicious or not at this stage.

Firefighters battled the blaze in Queensland, Australia, for nearly 12 hours

Emma-Lee Headrick, the children's aunt, wrote on social media on Monday morning that she had been awake all night mourning the loss of "Waynie boy" and her "beautiful" nephews.

"I stayed awake, mourning the loss of six beautiful souls," she wrote on Facebook alongside a photo of the father and his sons floating on pink clouds.

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

"We have suffered a great loss. I find comfort knowing you rest peacefully in the arms of the Lord. With Grumpy and Nicky. To my whanau in Queensland, I feel your pain and aroha. I'll be there soon."

A relative shared this image of the her beloved brother and nephews in a Facebook post

Speaking yesterday, Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham said: "In terms of best investigative processes, the elements that need further investigation or clarification must remain confidential at this stage."

It did emerge, though, Mr Godinet and Ms Stephenson had been sleeping on the ground floor while the children and female relative had been upstairs when the fire broke out. The woman was forced to jump from a second-storey window to escape the flames.

The superintendent was asked if the male victim was allowed to be at the house. The officer said: "In terms of that aspect of it, were still investigating that but I can confirm that police happen to the residents in the past but the nature and frequency of our attendance there is subject to internal review...Today we're hopeful of removing the bodies of the six people who tragically perished in this fire."

Emergency services work at the scene following the devastating blaze (RUSSELL FREEMAN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

A letter from the acting principal of Russell Island State School Leanne McMahon was sent to parents and caregivers on Sunday. The two eldest sons, Zack and Harry, were students at the school.

"Many of you will be aware of a tragic house fire this morning in our community. It has been reported that some residents, including young people, remain unaccounted for. We extend our sincere sympathies to the affected families and their loved ones at this difficult time," the letter read.

The letter, given to parents, continued: "As a community, we will rally together and support each other through this challenging period."

Family friend Peter Macloughlin visited the remains of the family home on Sunday.

"The mother came out very distressed saying the children were inside as was her partner there was nothing I could do," he told 9news. Mr Macloughlin said he was "devastated" for the family.

Bradley Jolly