An investigation revealed that a mother and her two children who perished in a fire on Boxing Day in Gloucestershire died from exposure to fire-related fumes. Fionnghuala Shearman, 38, known as Nu, along with her seven-year-old daughter Eve and four-year-old son Ohner, lost their lives when their home in Brimscombe, near Stroud, was engulfed in flames.
During a hearing at Gloucestershire coroner’s court, it was disclosed that police officer Tom Shearman made a valiant effort to rescue his family but was thwarted by the intense fire. Emergency responders rushed to the scene at a mid-terrace Cotswold stone cottage on Brimscombe Hill around 3 am, where they battled the blaze that had consumed the residence.
Senior coroner Katy Skerrett initiated three separate inquests into the tragic deaths of Mrs. Shearman and her two children. Ms. Skerrett recounted the events of that fateful night, detailing how only Tom Shearman managed to escape the inferno while the others were trapped inside due to the fire and smoke.
A preliminary post-mortem report by a forensic pathologist attributed the cause of death for the Shearman family to exposure to fire-related fumes, pending further tests. Mrs. Shearman was identified through a tattoo, while her children were identified via DNA analysis.
The inquests were adjourned with no set date for further proceedings. The fire, believed to have originated on the ground floor, caused extensive damage to the property but is not considered suspicious. A fundraising effort for the family has garnered nearly £440,000 in support.