HERO FIREMAN TRIED TO SAVE OWN FAMILY
Son-in-law’s horror as six die in blaze
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A FIREFIGHTER fought to save six of his family trapped inside a blazing farmhouse.
Dave Price was the son-inlaw of David Cuthbertson, 68, who died in the inferno with five children aged between four and 11.
The firefighter is today comforting his wife Pia, 24.
A classmate has claimed one of the small boys who died liked to “play with matches”.
But forensic experts fear the fire’s intensity has destroyed clues as to what caused the blaze in the early hours of Monday.
Family friend Mary Ann Gilchrist, 68, praised Mr Cuthbertson for being the perfect dad to 15 children from three different relationships.
She said: “He was firstly a family man and loved those children, you would not find a more devoted father.
“What I find so horrific is that one of the people who responded was his son-in-law, a local fireman. It must have been the most dreadful thing to get there and realise it was his own family members.”
Police are investigating the cause of the blaze in Llangammarch Wells, Powys, which left the farmhouse an empty shell.
Specially-trained police have interviewed the three surviving children aged 13, 12 and 10, who escaped after Mr Cuthbertson lowered them from an upstairs window.
Senior officers say it could be weeks before the six victims are formally identified.
Superintendent Jon Cummins added: “Due to the severity of damage at the scene we are unable at this stage to identify any of the deceased.
“At this time we are treating the cause of the fire as unexplained.”
A fund to support the family has raised more than £13,000.