A Queensland family has been left shattered after a house fire claimed the lives of a woman married for more than three decades and a close friend her husband had known since childhood.
Fire crews and other emergency services were called to Adelaide Street in Kingston, in Logan, at 3.04pm on Tuesday following reports that a home had been swallowed by flames.
Leanne Laver, 62, and longtime family friend Phillip Gordon, 73, were later found dead inside the property after Mr Gordon reportedly went back into the burning house in an attempt to help her.
Ms Laver’s husband, Sean ‘Ari’ Laver, escaped the blaze along with their daughter Chloe, son Jay and housemate Lucas Kirby. None of them was injured.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Ari Laver was overcome with emotion as he recalled the terrifying moments the fire took hold and the realisation that his wife remained trapped inside.
‘We tried to pull the hose through and within seconds it was just a wall of smoke and I just screamed at my son to get out,’ he told ABC News.
‘I tried to run back… when I realised my wife had not come down the front stairs. The last thing she will remember is that I ran past her.
‘When we realised the fire was right under the house, I tried to go back but I couldn’t get back in.’
Leanne Laver (centre left with her family) was found dead inside her family home after a devastating fire on Wednesday afternoon
Emergency services rushed to Adelaide Street in Kingston, a suburb of Logan, at 3.04pm on Tuesday after reports a house was engulfed in flames
Ms Laver’s husband Ari (pictured) broke down in tears as he described fleeing the fire
Ari and Leanne Laver were married for over 30 years and shared three children, including a daughter they informally adopted as an adult.
‘For 42 years, [she was] the most faithful, loving, selfless, sacrificing woman… She was faithful beyond the extreme in every way that mattered,’ Mr Laver said.
Mr Laver later told The Courier Mail he was worried about what he would do for his children.
‘I’m feeling it, I should have died with my wife,’ he said.
Mr Laver said he had known Mr Gordon since they were 17 years old and described him as ‘a brother in every way’.
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Chloe Laver created a GoFundMe campaign on Wednesday following the fire that killed her mother and ‘Uncle Phil’.
‘Our family has experienced an unimaginable tragedy,’ she wrote.
‘While my father, my brother, and I managed to escape with just the clothes on our backs, our lives have been forever changed.
Mr Laver (pictured with Leanne) said he couldn’t re-enter the home to save his wife
Mr Laver’s friend Phillip Gordon (pictured) also died in the fire
Police declared a crime scene at the property and are investigating the cause of the fire
‘We are heartbroken to share that we lost our beloved mother – our unwavering support system – and our brave Uncle Phil, who selflessly ran back into the flames to try and save her.’
Ms Laver said her mother’s death followed a long and grueling health battle after Leanne was diagnosed with stage four lymphoma last year.
‘She had just transitioned to immunotherapy, and we finally believed the worst was behind us,’ she said.
‘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.’
Ms Laver said the family has ‘nothing and nowhere to turn’ but the community rallied around them to provide food and clothing.
The proceeds raised in the fundraiser will go towards Ms Laver and Mr Gordon’s funerals, as well as helping the Lavers with financial pressures.
Police declared a crime scene at the property and are investigating the cause of the fire.
Mr Laver told ABC he was not sure what caused the blaze but suspected there had been an electrical fault in the gaming room.
Anyone with relevant information or vision is urged to contact police.
