NEED TO KNOW
- A father who lost his wife and two young children in a house fire the day after Christmas in Gloucestershire, England, has paid an emotional tribute
- Tom Sherman’s wife, Fionnghuala, daughter, Eve, 7 and son, Ohner, 4, died in the blaze as well as the family dog, Hutch
- In a statement released via Gloucestershire police on Jan. 1, Tom said, “My family had its very core, its very essence, ripped from it in the most violent way”
A father whose two young children and wife died in a house fire the day after Christmas is paying an emotional tribute to his loved ones.
On Friday, Dec. 26, Fionnghuala Shearman — also known as Nu — and her two children, daughter Eve, 7, and son Ohner, 4, as well as the family dog, Hutch, died in a fire at their home in Gloucestershire in the U.K. Fionnghuala’s husband, police officer Thomas Shearman, survived after trying to rescue his wife and children.
In his statement, released via Gloucestershire Constabulary, Tom thanked well-wishers who had donated to his GoFundMe appeal, adding that he was “humbled beyond comprehension” by people’s generosity.
“Three of the greatest humans to ever grace our presence were taken from not just me, but all of us”, Tom adding, urging people to “take every opportunity to hug your loved ones and tell them you love them.”
“My life, the lives of my loved ones, my friends and the whole community changed on Boxing Day [as Dec. 26 is known in the U.K.],” he continued. “My family had its very core, its very essence, ripped from it in the most violent way.”
Fionnghuala Shearman/Instagram
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At the time of publishing, Tom’s appeal had raised over $473,000 of the target $538,000. The serving police officer said that he would use some of the funds to ensure his “unbelievably talented, empathetic, compassionate and beautiful wife’s legacy of craft, design and making lives on.” He also said he intended to honor his daughter’s love of reading and his son’s desire to help others.
Tom concluded by offering his “heartfelt thanks” to the emergency services who “tried everything to save my wonderful family.”
“In memory of Nu. Eve. Ohner. Hutch,” he added.
At a press conference following the tragedy, Det Supt Fletcher of Gloucestershire Police confirmed the husband and wife had woken up to the fire. “They have been unable to get to the back bedroom due to the voracity of the fire. The father has smashed his way out of the house through a bathroom window to try to access the children’s bedroom via the outside,” Fletcher said, per U.K. newspaper The Times, detailing Tom’s desperate attempts to save his family.
Ben Birchall/PA Images via Getty
Fletcher added that the incident was not being treated as “suspicious,” but rather a “tragic accident.”
Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service wrote in a statement that they were “Deeply saddened by the tragic news,” adding, “Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with their family, friends, and everyone affected by this devastating incident.”
Gloucestershire Police Federation also paid tribute to their colleague, calling the incident an “unimaginable tragedy”.
They added, “It is impossible for us all to properly comprehend and come to terms with what has happened.”
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