REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Monday, December 8, 2008

A SYDNEY couple counted their losses after a blaze tore through their Mermaid Beach holiday home which one real estate agent estimates to be worth more than $7 million.

The beachside home, part of Millionaires’ Row in Albatross Ave, went up in flames about 9.15pm on Saturday.

The property was the holiday home of Karl Morris, the chief executive officer and managing director of Ord Minnett Limited, and his wife Louise, who were based in Sydney.

It was initially thought that a lightning strike may have sparked the blaze, however police later revealed they were treating the fire as suspicious.

The house was unoccupied at the time of the fire.

Neighbours reported hearing two large cracks of lightning

before noticing flames coming from the house.

“There was a massive bolt and the power was knocked out for about 10 or 15 seconds then the reserve kicked in,’’ said neighbour Ryan Quinlivan.

“Then another couple of big bolts came through and it was all quiet for ages, then the next thing the sky was orange (with flames). “It went up so quick.

“Our mates were sitting at Burleigh having dinner and they could see it from there.”