Natalie, 18, killed in house fire as mother pleads for her rescue
A TEENAGE girl died in a house fire as her desperate mother begged would-be rescuers to save her.
Natalie Merry was trapped as fire ripped through the two-storey, terraced property in Ayr on Sunday night.
The 18-year-old, who worked as a carer, was pronounced dead at the scene while her mother Jennifer Merry, 49, and a 22-year-old man were taken to hospital following the tragedy.
There was no indication of the extent of their injuries last night.
Forensic officers were at the scene yesterday but it is not yet known what caused the blaze.
Neighbours described hearing the teenager’s frantic mother begging for someone to help her daughter.
Angus Munro, who witnessed the drama after the alarm was raised at 8.20pm, said: ‘I heard her shouting that her daughter was still in the house.
‘There was a heavy, heavy reek and thick black smoke was pouring from the roof. One of the neighbours is a nurse so she ran up to give the woman first aid but she said her girl was still inside. I don’t know what happened after that.’
Mr Munro, 72, added: ‘It’s terrible – a wee lassie of 18. I heard she was supposed to be going to university.’
Yesterday, as fire investigators and forensics officers worked in the smoke-blackened property, tributes poured in for the teenager on social media.
Miss Merry’s boyfriend Alistair Innes wrote: ‘I’m absolutely heartbroken, had the happiest and best two years of my life, she made me so happy, going to miss waking up to her beautiful wee face every day. Love you so much Natalie.’
A friend of Miss Merry said online: ‘Natalie was such a lovely beautiful girl. She will be missed so much.’
Another said: ‘Natalie was an amazing person and could make anyone smile and laugh. She was one in a million.’
Another friend wrote: ‘Doesn’t seem real. What a lovely girl she was and she will always be remembered for that. Rest easy Natalie.’
A spokesman for Police Scotland said a post-mortem examination would be held to establish the cause of the teenager’s death. She added: ‘Her family have been made aware. The fire was extinguished by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and a joint investigation has been launched to establish the circumstances.’
James Scott, fire service senior officer for South Ayrshire, said: ‘Operations control immediately mobilised a number of fire engines and firefighters extinguished the fire. Sadly, one woman passed away at the scene. Our thought are with all of those who are affected at this time.’
Bradley Barlow, spokesman for gas distribution firm SGN, said engineers had been at the scene after the fire to isolate the gas supply and make the area safe.
He added: ‘While it is too early to speculate as to what happened, we’ll support the emergency services to help identify the cause of the fire.’
‘Supposed to be going to university’