BOY’S INCREDIBLE RECOVERY AFTER BLAZE THAT KILLED HIS LITTLE BROTHER
AHEARTBROKEN mother has revealed that her son is making an incredible recovery after he was rescued from a horrific fire that killed his three-year-old brother.
In the early hours of Sunday, January 19, a fire ripped through a caravan parked outside a house in Ffair Rhos, north of Tregaron in Ceredigion.
Inside at the time were Shaun Harvey and his two sons – threeyear-old Zac and his four-year-old brother Harley.
Neighbours heard screaming coming from inside the caravan at around 5am as Mr Harvey battled to save his boys, who were staying with him during a weekend sleepover.
There was nothing he could do to save Zac, who tragically died in the blaze. For Harley, the outlook was bleak.
He was airlifted to Bristol Children’s Hospital in a critical condition and his chances of survival were slim. But, a few months on, the four-year-old is making an “amazing” recovery.
His mother, Erin Harvey, has revealed that he was in hospital until the end of February, and still needed constant help from doctors and nurses even after he returned home.
“The first few weeks of adjusting to home life was hard, after having nurses and doctors to help around the clock to being on my own with Harley,” she said.
“It was worrying for me, but Harley adapted to the change well. We soon got into a routine of medications, baths, dressing changes and creams.
“He was in a wheelchair for the first few weeks but you wouldn’t even think it now. He’s definitely back to his active self. He still can’t do all the things he could before and needs help with things like eating and toilet trips.
“He doesn’t have full function of his left hand, but to our amazement he wiggled his fingers for the first time the other day. He’s definitely making progress.”
Such is Harley’s bravery, he even managed to return to the primary school that he attends in Ceredigion before the coronavirus lockdown.
“He had done two afternoons back in Pontrhydfendigaid School before lockdown happened, and he can’t wait until he can go back and see all his friends,” added Mrs Harvey.
“The teachers have been a massive support to us and still continue to check in on us all via phone.
“We are waiting for an appointment with his consultant to discuss his next surgery in Morriston. It’s going to be a long road, but the way Harley takes it all and excels in every way possible makes it much easier on us all as a family.
“The staff at Morriston Burns Unit have been amazing. I would like to thank everyone who is supporting us along our journey.”
Police continue to investigate the cause of the fatal fire, but it is not being treated as suspicious.
The morning after the blaze, next-door neighbour Miriam Connolly said the ordeal was “absolutely horrific”. She described how Mr Harvey had managed to save Harley and had returned to rescue his brother Zac, but “by then fire was just too much”.
“The noise was horrific,” she said. “The terror – you can’t describe it.
“The father is a lovely lad. I often saw the kids outside in the summer. Really lovely kids. Always laughing and giggling.”
As Harley continues his miraculous recovery from the fateful events of that January morning, proud mum Erin said the family will never be able truly to recover from the tragedy that killed his brother.
“Zac was such a little ray of sunshine, always so happy and cheeky,” she said.
“Our home is very quiet now he’s gone. Harley and his brother Alex are coping well at the moment, and we’ve got support in place.
“It’s something that will never get any easier and our family will never be the same again.”