Battlers face fresh fight
A COUPLE injured in a horrific house fire that killed a husky and three pet cats on the weekend were in a critical condition last night as family and friends rallied around them.
Michael, 55, and Liane Breeze, 50, suffered severe burns to the face, chest and hands when their Worongary home went up in flames at 3.40am on Sunday.
They are recovering at Royal Brisbane Hospital where they remained in an induced coma while receiving skin grafts yesterday. The blaze destroyed their Mataranka Drive home.
A friend of the family, who asked not to be named, said the couple’s two children, Taylor and Shaun Breeze, were inconsolable after the blaze on the night of Liana Breeze’s 50th birthday.
The family, described as Aussie battlers, now face an uncertain financial future as they may not be eligible for an insurance payout.
“It’s just a family who really didn’t deserve this to happen,” she said.
“The husky Luka who was actually in the house fire as well, they got him less than a year ago. They were really feeling that loss.
“It’s just really devastating.” The woman said due to rumours the fire may have been caused by a fire pit that was not properly extinguished, they were unsure if the family would be eligible for an insurance payout. “We don’t know if they did have home insurance,” she said.
Witnesses revealed Ms Breeze rushed back into the raging fire early on Sunday morning in an attempt to save her animals but in the end, only two dogs survived.
The friend said Mr Breeze was a farrier and the whole family were passionate animal lovers. “He works for himself so his tools ... would have all been lost in the fire,” she said.
“He actually doesn’t have the means to go back to work.
“That was the whole household’s source of income. We don’t know what will happen.”
Within hours of the fire, friends had established a fundraising page to raise money for the Breeze family.
To donate, visit gofundme.com/breezefirefund
To donate in person, visit Inkspired Tattoo and Beauty at 19 McLean St, Coolangatta.