UP IN FLAMES
ARTIST LOSES WORK IN FIRE
A GOLD Coast artist has lost thousands of dollars worth of paintings and irreplaceable memories after his luxury home went up in flames on Saturday night.
Gregory McDonald, known for his Australiana paintings, has described the moment he collapsed in a “sea of black smoke” when a fierce fire ripped through his Sir Bruce Small Blvd, Benowa mansion just before midnight.
Firefighters said it took five fire crews more than an hour to bring the blaze under control but the million dollar home was destroyed.
Mr McDonald told the Gold Coast Bulletin the fire – suspected to have been started by rechargeable lights – took hold “like a freight train”.
He said his nephew first noticed the smell of smoke when he went to get a glass of water.
“There was a fire well and truly ablaze in the garage,” Mr Mcdonald said.
“I immediately got my mum out of the house, that was the main thing. I went and got a hose and tried to put the fire out myself.
“All my paints were exploding and everything began to collapse.
“You just don’t think when you’re in that situation ... I couldn’t even remember the numbers 000.
“I went back inside to get my phone and new tablet and forgot to hold my breathe going in.
“It was a sea of black and I just remember collapsing and falling on to a lamp.”
Mr McDonald was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital suffering smoke inhalation but returned to his gutted house yesterday where thousands of dollars of his work was destroyed.
“Thousands of paintings, my Ducati, my car and surfboard art are all gone now,” he said.
“It’s sad to see everything I have put all my heart and soul into gone.
“I had so many commissions that were ready to be sent out to people all over the place.”
But he said the hardest thing was seeing his late father’s possessions destroyed.
“The worst part to me is seeing dad’s awards and things destroyed ... you can never replace things like that. “He was a real hero. “We all survived and that's the main thing isn’t it?
“The firefighters managed to stop it at the kitchen but everything else is gone”.
Neighbours have since rallied around the family.
“The whole entire neighbourhood has been so amazing,” Mr Mcdonald said.
“A lady I don’t even know dropped off some sandwiches and food and drink for me.
“Even a bottle of water seems like nothing but when you have nothing anything is something.”