The husband of a woman killed alongside a long-time family friend in a devastating house fire south of Brisbane has told how quickly the fire took hold, sharing his heartache as he and other occupants managed to escape.
Leanne Laver, 62, and family friend Phillip Gordon, 73, lost their lives in the blaze which took hold of a timber home at Adelaide St, Kingston on Tuesday, July 21.
Mrs Laver and her husband Sean “Ari” Laver, who had been together for 42 years and married for 32 years, had lived in the rental home for 35 years.
Mr Laver, his daughter Chloe, son Jay, and housemate Lucas Kirby managed to escape the blaze.
A devastated Mr Laver broke down in tears as he remembered his wife of more than 30 years and his friend who he referred to as his brother, saying how quickly it took hold after they heard a bang.
Mr Laver said he is struggling to come to terms with their loss.
“I’m feeling it, I should have died with my wife,” he said.
“And what am I going to do for my kids?
“It’s all that’s going through my head.
“My wife didn’t deserve that.”
Mr Laver said he ran for the front door to get a hose and thought that his wife was following him.
“She was right at the front door. I ran down for the hose, thinking that she wouldn’t be following,” he said.
“When we realised the fire was under the house, I tried to go back. I couldn’t get in.
“I called her, told them to try for the door. I don’t know what to say.
“We got out in our underwear and with the phone. That’s it.
“When I realised my wife had not come down the front stairs, the last thing she’ll remember is that I ran past her.
“I just thought she was coming right behind me.
“I thought I could stop it. I thought I had a chance.
“I loved her, I love her still, and I failed her.
“I should have gone back, I knew it was death.
“I should have gone back anyway.”
Mr Laver said Phil was last seen entering the house, in a bid to save his cats.
“I think he went back for his cats,” he said.
“I’m sure he was nearly at the back door.
“We had a boarder with us, Lucas, he said he saw him at the back door and he tried to push him out, but Phil pushed past him and went back in.”
Daughter Chloe Laver launched a GoFundMe campaign on Wednesday to raise funds for a funeral and to cover basic necessities for the surviving family members, who escaped the devastating blaze with only the clothes on their backs.
“While my father, my brother and I managed to escape with just the clothes on our backs, our lives have been forever changed,” she wrote.
Chloe revealed that Phil Gordon, her uncle, “selflessly ran back into the flames in an attempt to try and save (Leanne).”
“This loss comes after a long, gruelling battle,” she wrote.
“Last year, my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma. She had just transitioned to immunotherapy, and we finally believed the worst was behind us.
“In an instant, the fire took her from us, alongside Uncle Phil, five of our seven cherished cats, our two parrots, and our two fish tanks. Only two of our cats survived. Right now, we have absolutely nothing and nowhere to turn.”
Five cats and two birds were also lost in the fire, which destroyed the home, four cars and three motorcycles.
Mr Laver wanted his wife to be remembered as devoted and a loving woman.
“Over 42 years, she was the most faithful, loving, selfless, sacrificing woman,” he said.
“She was devoted, steadfast, unwavering, brave, loving, self-sacrificing.”
Mr Laver said his friend Phillip was like a brother to him.
“I’ve known Phillip since I was 17, I called him my brother in every way,” he said.
“I was an only child, he’s all I knew of a brother, my parents loved him.
“Phil was the ultimate stick in the mud, garrulous, silly, and as genuine as the day was long.”
Mr Laver said his focus now will be pushing on for his children.
“I’ve got to find somewhere to live,” he said.
“I can keep us fed and pay for a motel room for a couple of weeks, but that’ll be it.
“I’ve got to find somewhere for a year where I can take my kids and rebuild – try and live with this.”
Seven fire crews battled the blaze and successfully brought it under control in just under one hour.
Police made an emergency declaration under the Public Safety Preservation Act shortly after arriving at the scene, with the exclusion zone bordered by Adelaide Road, Augustus Street, Hope Street and Clare Road.
It was revoked at 4.55pm.
Witness Aaron White said he was on his way to a job when he saw the smoke.
“The fire was quite big. My friend saw two really big flames,” he said.
“You could see the smoke from the [Pacific] motorway.”
A crime scene has been declared as investigations into the cause of the fire are under way, with police still guarding the property on Wednesday morning.
Fire investigators arrived on scene early on Wednesday morning, with an electrical fault to be probed as a potential cause of the blaze.
Anyone with relevant information or vision is urged to contact police.
