THE death of a toddler in a Nelson Bay house fire yesterday is the third cruel blow for a family already dealing with a terminal illness and a young baby critically ill in hospital.
Taya Gibson, 2, was killed when flames tore through her grandmother Julie Gibson's Austral Street home about 1.30am.
Witnesses have told how Ms Gibson, 51, repeatedly tried to fight her way back into the burning house to save the little girl, who could be heard screaming for help inside.
Ms Gibson and her partner Neil Tarrant, 67, who has throat cancer, were babysitting Taya and her sisters, aged seven and five, while their parents were at Sydney's Westmead Children's Hospital.
Their youngest daughter, aged 10 months, is there in intensive care after a liver transplant.
Also at home were Ms Gibson's children, 17 and 15.
Police believe the fire began at the rear of the two-storey house and the flames spread quickly through the building.
The adults rounded up the children and escaped through the front door but it is thought that in the confusion little Taya became lost in the smoke and was trapped inside as the flames, which firefighters described "like a bonfire", consumed the house.
Ms Gibson suffered smoke inhalation and minor burns across her face, hands and head as she tried in vain to rescue her granddaughter.
Mr Tarrant, who was recovering from his latest dose of chemotherapy for an advanced case of throat cancer, also suffered smoke inhalation.
He underwent emergency surgery yesterday afternoon and doctors were still treating him last night.
Compounding the tragedy, Taya's parents Jason and Lana were supposed to celebrate Jason's birthday with the family yesterday.
Police and firefighters praised the efforts of Ms Gibson and her 17-year-old son Blair, who battled the flames with a fire extinguisher as they tried to fight their way back into the house to rescue Taya.
Neighbours who rushed to the family's aid said the pair tried to get back in after they heard Taya screaming for help inside the burning house.
"She [the grandmother] went back in . . . she could hear her," one witness said.
"I think she must have lost her in the panic of getting everyone out and then she ran straight back to get in."
NSW Fire Brigade Superintendent Greg Adams said the flames were so fierce that even the trained fire crews were forced back three times.
He said fire crews arrived just after 1.35am and found the house well alight.
When they were told a child was still inside they entered the blazing building with breathing apparatus as the roof and walls began to collapse.
The crews battled the flames for almost an hour before the fire came under control.
The other children were treated for smoke inhalation and shock at a Nelson Bay clinic and were being treated by Hunter New England Health staff last night.
The family dog, found by firefighters unhurt among the rubble late yesterday morning, is being cared for by family friends.
Friends of the family and neighbours said the Nelson Bay community was devastated by Taya's death.
"We could hear the screaming and then we saw the flames and my daughter said, 'Mummy, something's wrong' and we ran over there but it was too late," cousin Michelle Tarrant, who lives only one street away, said.
"The whole house was just engulfed by that time."
The surviving children briefly stayed with Mrs Tarrant and her family until staff from the health clinic took charge.
Others could hardly believe the family had been dealt such a cruel blow.
"It's terrible, it's a terrible time for the family and they're all in a lot of pain," family friend Christine Trivett said.
"It's been a really terrible year for them with Tubby's [Mr Tarrant's] troubles and their other little girl getting so sick.
"How can a family cope when life just hits them over and over again like this? It's ridiculous."
Friends and neighbours have set up a fund to try to help the family put the pieces of their shattered life back together.
Staff from the Epitome Of Hair salon and the local PCYC are collecting cash, furniture and other items.
Anyone interested in donating can contact the salon on 4981 1762.
Firefighters are investigating the cause of the fire but are not treating it as suspicious.
A report on the toddler's death is expected to be prepared for the coroner this week.
Email a friend
Favourites
Del.icio.us
Facebook
Digg
StumbleUpon
MySpace
Reddit
Newsvine
LinkedIn
Kwoff