A grieving mother has issued a heartbreaking message after her five children and her partner were all killed in a house fire.
Samantha Stephenson was left devastated after her five sons and her partner got trapped inside their home on Queensland’s Russell Island as the building was swallowed by fire at around six in the morning.
The mom tried to go back inside to save her children but her partner, Wayne Godinet, stopped her and ran back inside but he never came out.
Reports revealed that he was trapped upstairs with twins Koa and Kyza, 4, his son Nicky, 3, and stepsons Harry, 10, and Zack, 11.
Authorities later confirmed that six bodies were found.
After the tragic incident, Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham said that there were numerous elements of the fire that required ‘further scrutiny.’
“In terms of best investigative processes, the elements that need further investigation or clarification must remain confidential at this stage,” he said, according to the Daily Mail.
“Today we’re hopeful of removing the bodies of the six people who tragically perished in this fire yesterday,” Detective Massingham continued.
“A crime scene has been declared at Todman Street and fire investigators and scene of crime staff are there. Our disaster victim identification squad has been called in to assist in that process.”
The detective also revealed that police knew Wayne as officers had been called to the property on many occasions.
“In terms of that aspect of it, we’re still investigating that but I can confirm that police happen to the residents in the past but the nature and frequency of our attendance there is subject to internal review,” he said.
Lilly Slater, a close friend of the mom, set up a GoFundMe page to help her with funeral expenses.
“We have started this go fund me to assist Samantha in the cost to putting her beautiful family to rest as in funeral services, caskets and everything else that comes with laying your family members to rest,” she wrote.
Speaking to Daily Mail, Lilly also revealed that the distressed mother has a message to the world.
“Samantha just wants the world to know – check your smoke alarms and hold your babies.”
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