Dad pulls boys from home in fire tragedy
A YOUNG boy was last night in a critical condition with horrific burns suffered in a house fire which claimed the life of his older brother.
The boys Blade, 4, and Jeremy, 3, suffered burns to 90 per cent of their bodies before their father, Nathan Perry, pulled them from their beds in the Weranga home about 8pm on Tuesday.
Blade later died in the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital.
Mr Perry, 34, suffered burns to his arms and upper body trying to rescue the brothers from the home on Ross Road.
A relative of the boys is believed to have called for an ambulance and was guided through first aid before paramedics arrived about 25 minutes later.
Queensland Ambulance Service senior operations supervisor Stephen Johns said paramedics stabilised the boys and their father before the trio was airlifted separately to Brisbane.
“It’s certainly a confronting scene particularly involving children and particularly with extensive burns,” Mr Johns said.
The steel home - one of two on the property - was destroyed in the fire. It had been fitted with solar panels and initial investigations found there were no working smoke alarms inside.
Neighbours yesterday said first responders had struggled to find the rural home, and called for better street numberings systems.
A fundraiser has been set up for the family online at gofundme/support-fornathan-and-boys.
❝ It’s certainly a confronting scene. — Stephen Johns, QAS