Six bodies had been found have been found in a property where a father and five sons were trapped in a raging fire.
Police confirmed the grisly discovery on Sunday night after grave fears were held for the 34-year-old man and the boys, who are 11, 10 and three along with four-year-old twins inside the Todman Street property Russell Island, off Brisbane’s south coast.
Despite battling all day firefighters were unable to get into the burnt out property due to the searing heat until 4.50pm when the bodies were found.
‘Once the fire was extinguished this afternoon by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services an initial examination of the scene located the bodies of six people, believed to be a man and five children,’ police said.
‘A port-mortem and scientific examination will take place to confirm the identities of the deceased.’
Neighbour, Angela Dawson, told The Courier-Mail the boys’ mother, 28, tried to run into the house when the fire broke out at about 6.18am on Sunday, but their father stopped her and ran inside instead.
One home has been completely destroyed by the blaze, another extinguished and a third still burning
‘He told her not go to back inside … So she warned the neighbours by screaming. They are calling her their hero now, she saved them,’ Ms Dawson said.
‘The whole community is devastated, absolutely shattered.’
Superintendent Matthew Kelly said the mother escaped unharmed but was very distressed.
‘These are young boys that could have become men in the future and a man has lost his life as well,’ he said.
‘We are still speaking with this lady, who has lost her entire family. It is truly tragic.’
Ms Dawson further described the father as a ‘super dad’ who tried tirelessly to save the children from the burning home.
‘He was just a doting father who couldn’t wait to get home to play with the kids,’ Ms Dawson told the publication.
‘I know he was a hero and would have done everything to get those kids out.’
Supt Kelly said the cause of the fire was still under investigation.
‘We are not treating it as suspicious at this stage, preliminary investigations do not suggest that,’ he said.
Emergency services described the scene as ‘confronting’.
Fire and Rescue Service crews rushed to Todman Street on Russell Island, 60km south east of Brisbane , at 6.18am on Sunday following reports homes were on fire
One local said he heard an ‘explosion’ before he saw black smoke pouring into the sky.
‘Heard explosions earlier this morning and then saw the black smoke,’ the wrote in a local Facebook group.
‘I am saddened by the whole thing.’
A further nine people, including neighbours, were treated at the scene by paramedics.
Two were taken to hospital in a stable condition – one to Redlands Hospital and one to Princess Alexandra Hospital.
‘Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire,’ police said.
The blaze then spread to two other houses, sending plumes of thick smoke billowing into the sky.
One home collapsed in the blaze, while firefighters worked to douse the flames on another.
About 20 firefighters were able to extinguish the flames on a third home.
Paramedics have treated nine people on the island, with two to three likely to be taken to hospital on the mainland. About six people, including children, remain unaccounted for
Anyone with information or relevant footage of the incident are being urged to come forward as an investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.
‘Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire,’ police said.
‘Fire investigators are awaiting the area to be declared safe before examining the scene.’
Russell Island Rural Fire Brigade responded first to the blaze, with witnesses then seeing ambulance and fire trucks from the mainland boarding a barge to the island to assist with the fire.
Paramedics have treated nine patients on the island, with two of those people taken to Redlands Hospital in a stable condition.
