House collapsed with family inside
Emergency appeal to help fund repairs
An emergency appeal fund has been set up to help a Hamilton family whose house collapsed around them while they were all in it.
Vikki Dearman’s life has been turned upside down after severe winds ripped apart her Low Waters Road family home last Sunday afternoon.
The support worker was inside her house – with children, Ellie, Ethan, Eve and Jim – when she heard a sudden noise which, at first, sounded like her kids running across the top landing. However, the reality was horrifying. Vikki this week spoke to the Advertiser about that terrifying moment.
She said: “Everything happened so fast. It sounded just like the kids running around upstairs, but it was coming from the wrong side of the house for it to be coming from them.
“It all happened within seconds. Then we realised what had happened and fled for the front door.
“My daughter Ellie was upstairs in her bedroom at the time. Pure panic set in and we called for her to come down as quick as she could.
“When we got outside we realised the full extent of what had happened. I just can’t get the image out of my head.
“What if Ellie had been sitting somewhere else in her room? She would have been carried away with the rubble.
“The police and fire were called and my neighbours have been great. The fire people were also excellent and responded really quickly. They believe it was something to do with the storm which destroyed the chimney, bringing it down and the side wall.”
Vikki and her children have now been forced out of their home and have been given support from loved ones and friends.
However, she now faces a staggering £30,000 bill to fix her home and did damage not have building insurance on the property.
She explained: “I’m ashamed and embarrassed at not getting around to having insurance, but I have to try and do something to save this house.
“I am now in this position and need to try and think positive. This could have been a lot worse and all my children are safe, which is the main thing.”
An emergency appeal was put out this week from Vikki’s family and friends to help her rebuild their home.
Friends have set up a Justgiving page in a bid to help.
It reads: “This is an emergency appeal to help out a good friend of ours, Vikki, who is a hard-working mum to her four children. She needs assistance in repairing severe damage to her house in
Hamilton as the storm at the weekend destroyed the chimney and side wall of the property, exposing the property to the elements.
“They cannot live in the property as the gas and electric has been turned off for safety.
“Vikki had no building insurance on the property and as a one-income family does not have the funds available to cover this damage and is not entitled to any government assistance, or housing.
“Can you please help this family rebuild their home and their lives. All donations, help and advice welcomed, huge thank you in advance.”
If you can help the family, go to: https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ michelle-spittal