Two girls critically injured in Sydenham house fire die in hospital
Two of three children who were found unconscious in their burning home in Melbourne’s northwest have died almost three days after being rushed to hospital.
Authorities were called to the brick Fergus Ct property in Sydenham just after 9.30pm on Sunday, pulling three children from the burning blaze.
All were treated at the scene before being rushed to the Royal Children’s Hospital, where they spent more than two days fighting for their lives.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.In a statement on Wednesday, police confirmed that two girls, a five-year-old named Izabel and a one-year-old, had died in hospital “surrounded by family” earlier that day.
7NEWS understands the father of one of the little girls was granted access from prison to say his final goodbye.
A third child — a three-year-old boy named Kalais — remains in a critical condition.
The boy’s father Jayde Petalas told 7NEWS on Wednesday that his condition had appeared to improve with doctors planning to remove his breathing tube.
About 30 firefighters had rushed to the scene on Sunday after the fire broke out at the back of the home, where the family had just moved.
The children are believed to have been in the burning property alone for 30 minutes before firefighters could pull them to safety.
“They would have been petrified. I hope they didn’t feel anything to be honest,” he said.
“Obviously they would have, but I just tell myself they didn’t.
“It shouldn’t have happened.”
Neighbours were alerted to the emergency by screams and a large bang.
“It was like an explosion. At first, we thought it was gunshots, so we cowered a bit, and then I peaked out the back window and saw the flames and the smoke coming out the back of their house,” one witness said.
Arson and Explosives Squad detectives are investigating the fire, “including what may have caused it and who was in the property at the time and just prior to the blaze”.
The probe is ongoing and anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers.
Originally published on 7NEWS
